J4J 


ERINE  CHISHOLM  GUSHING 


FREHDfi  STANDARD  LIBRARY  EOIT0 


)f  California  DRENCH,  25  West  45th  St.,  New  York 

Regional 
Facility 


POLLYANNA 

A  COMEDY  IN  FOUR  ACTS 

BY 
CATHERINE   CHISHOLM  GUSHING 


ADAPTED  FROM  THE  STORY  BY  ELEANOR  H.  PORTER 
BY      ARRANGEMENT      WITH      KLAW      &      ERLANGER 


COPYRIGHT,   1915,  BY  MARC  KLAW  &  ABRAHAM  L.  ERLANGER 

ALSO  COPYRIGHT  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN  AND  THE  DOMINION 
OF  CANADA,  1923,  BY  SAMUEL  FRENCH 


All  Rights  Reserved 

CAUTION — Professionals  and  amateurs  are  hereby  warned  that 
"POLLYANNA,"  being  fully  protected  under  the  copyright 
laws  of  the  United  States,  Great  Britain  and  the  Dominion 
of  Canada,  is  subject  to  a  royalty  and  anyone  presenting 
the  play  without  the  consent  of  the  owner  or  his  authorized 
agents  will  be  liable  to  the  penalties  by  law  provided.  Appli' 
cations  for  the  amateur  acting  rights  must  be  made  to 
Samuel  French,  25  West  45th  Street,  New  York.  Applica- 
tions for  the  professional  acting  rights  must  be  made  to 
George  C.  Tyler,  New  Amsterdam  Theatre  Building,  West 
42nd  Street,  New  York. 


NEW  YORK 
SAMUEL  FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 
25  WEST  45TH   STREET 


LONDON 

SAMUEL   FRENCH,   LTD. 

26  SOUTHAMPTON  STREET 

STRAND 


!••';' 

tSNCH 


- 

* 


"  Polli/anna  " 
All  Rights  Reserved 


Especial  notice  should  be  taken  that  the  possession  of 
this  book  without  a  valid  contract  for  production  first 
having  been  obtained  from  the  publisher,  confers  no  right 
or  license  to  professionals  or  amateurs  to  produce  the  play 
publicly  or  in  private  for  gain  or  charity. 

In  its  present  form  this  play  is  dedicated  to  the  reading 
public  only,  and  no  performance,  representation,  produc- 
tion, recitation,  or  public  reading,  or  radio  broadcasting 
may  be  given  except  by  special  arrangement  with  Samuel 
French,  25  West  45th  Street,  New  York. 

This  play  may  be  presented  by  amateurs  upon  payment 
of  a  royalty  of  Twenty-Five  Dollars  for  each  performance, 
payable  to  Samuel  French,  25  West  45th  Street,  New 
York,  one  week  before  the  date  when  the  play  is  given. 

Whenever  the  play  is  produced  the  following  notice  must 
appear  on  all  programs,  printing  and  advertising  for  the 
play:  "Produced  by  special  arrangement  with  Samuel 
French  of  New  York" 

Attention  is  called  to  the  penalty  provided  by  law  for 
any  infringement  of  the  author's  rights,  as  follows: 

"SECTION  4966 : — Any  person  publicly  performing  or  rep- 
resenting any  dramatic  or  musical  composition  for  which 
copyright  has  been  obtained,  without  the  consent  of  the 
proprietor  of  said  dramatic  or  musical  composition,  or  his 
heirs  and  assigns,  shall  be  liable  for  damages  thereof,  such 
damages,  in  all  cases  to  be  assessed  at  such  sum,  not  less 
than  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  first  and  fifty  dollars  for 
every  subsequent  performance,  as  to  the  court  shall  appear 
to  be  just.  If  the  unlawful  performance  and  representation 
be  wilful  and  for  profit,  such  person  or  persons  shall  be 
guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  upon  conviction  shall  be  im- 
prisoned for  a  period  not  exceeding  one  year."— U.  S. 
Revised  Statutes:  Title  60,  Chap.  3. 


Printed  in  the  United  States  of  America  by 
THE  RICHMOND  HILL  RECORD,  RICHMOND  HILL,  N.  Y. 


The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  playbill  of  the  first  per- 
formance of  "POLLYANNA"  at  the  Hudson  Theatre. 
New  York,  Monday  evening,  September  i8th,  1916. 

KLAW  &  ERLANGER  AND  GEORGE  C.  TYLER 
Present 

"POLLYANNA" 

The  Glad  Girl 
A  Comedy  in  Four  Acts 

By 
CATHERINE  CHISHOLM  GUSHING 

Based  on  the  novel  by  Eleanor  H.  Porter 

(By  arrangement  with  The  Page  Company) 

The  Play  staged  by  Mr.   Frederick  Stanhope 

ASSIGNMENT  OF  CHARACTERS 
(In  order  of  first  entrance) 

MRS.  CARMODY,  of  "The  Ladies'  Aid" .  .Miss  Maude  Granger 
Miss  CARROLL,  of  "The  Ladies'  Aid". Miss  Helen  Weathersby 

MRS.  GREGG,  of  "The  Ladies'  Aid" Miss  Maud  Hosford 

NANCY,  Miss  POLLY'S  servant Miss  Jessie  Bus-ley 

Miss  POLLY  HARRINGTON,  her  aunt Miss  Effie  Shannon 

POLLYANNA  WHITTIER,  "The  Glad  Girl" — 

Miss  Patricia  C  oiling  e 

GOMMORAH    \  Ry  Themselves 

JIMMY  BEAN,  an  orphan  {age  12  years) — 

Master  Bobby  Tobin 
JOHN  PENDLETON,  ESQ.,  a  bachelor,  called  "the  hermit" — 

Mr.  Philip  Mcrivale 

BLEECKER,  PENDLETON'S  man '.Mr.  Harry  Barfoot 

DOCTOR  CHILTON,  PENDLETON'S  friend.. Mr.  Herbert  Kelcey 

THE  NURSE Miss  Carolyn  M'Lean 

JIMMY  BEAN  (aged  17  years) Mr.  Lorin  Raker 

PLACE  AND  TIME  OF  ACTION 

SCENE  :    A  New  England  village.     PERIOD  :    Nowadays. 

ACT  I — Miss  POLLY  HARRINGTON'S  parlor.     A  Summer  af- 
ternoon. 

(Eight  minutes'  intermission) 
ACT  II — JOHN  PENDLETON'S  library.    Some  weeks  later. 

(Five  minutes'  intermission) 
ACT  III — The  library.     An  hour  later  than  Act  II. 

(Eight  minutes'  intermission) 
ACT  IV — The  library.    Five  years  later  than  Act  III. 


2114926 


CAST  OF  CHARACTERS 

MRS.  CARMODY 
MRS.  GREGG 
Miss  CARROLL 
NANCY 

POLLY  HARRINGTON 
JIMMY  BEAN,  JR. 
JOHN  PENDLETON 
DR.  CHILTON 
BLEECKER 
*  JIMMY  BEAN,  SR. 
POLLYANNA  V/HITTIER 


SYNOPSIS  OF  SCENES 

ACT      I.  Miss  POLLY  HARRINGTON'S  Parior. 

ACT     II.  JOHN  PENDLETON'S  Library. 

ACT  III.  Same  as  Act  II. 

ACT  IV.  Same  as  Act  II. 


*  JIMMY  BEAN,  JR.  and  SR.  are  the  same  charactei  played 
by  two   different  boys. 


POLLYANNA 

ACT    I 

PLACE:    Miss  POLLY  HARRINGTON'S  parlor. 

A  summer  afternoon.    Lights  "full  up." 

An  attractive  room  so  far  as  its  good  taste 
and  its  cleanliness  and  order  are  concerned,  but 
typical  of  its  haughty,  cold  mistress,  Miss 
POLLY,  who  has  not  changed  even  the  arrange- 
ment of  a  chair  in  the  past  twenty  years. 

Practical  door  left  of  centre  in  back  flat  leads 
into  hallway  showing  staircase. 

Practical  double  doors  (opening  off  stage)  in 
upper  right  flat  lead  into  dining  room.  Two  large 
windows  in  left  flat.  On  the  walls  are  two  or 
three  good  steel  engravings  and  framed  photos 
of  "departed"  members  of  the  family.  Furni- 
ture is  of  old  mahogany  of  Colonial  design  and 
upholstered  in  horsehair.  Lace  curtains  and 
draperies  on  windows.  Standing  left  on  stage 
is  an  oval  table  on  top  of  which  are  small  stacks 
of  children's  clothing,  also  a  large  doll  baby. 
Rocking  chair  left  of  table — chair  left.  Jet  locket 
in  left  corner  of  chair. 

Below  left  centre  door  against  left  flat  is  a 
cabinet  with  a  collection  of  more  or  less  valuable 
5 


6  POLLYANNA 

knickknacks.  In  centre  of  stage  is  a  barrel 
which  the  ladies  are  filling  with  clothing  for  a 
distant  Mission.  Large  table  right  of  stage  with 
bundles,  ball  of  twine,  scissors,  notebook  and 
pencil.  Easy  chair  left  of  right  table — chair 
right  of  table.  Back  of  table  right  is  a  couch 
with  bundles  on  it.  Fireplace  centre  of  back 
flat. 

The  walls  are  papered  in  neat  Colonial  design. 
Brussels  carpet  on  floor.  Woodwork  is  white 
and  room  is  immaculate. 

DISCOVERED:  At  rise  of  curtain,  MRS.  GREGG  left  of 
table  left,  MRS.  CARMODY  right  of  table  left, 
arranging  little  old  garments  for  the  "Mission 
barrel." 

All  chatter  as  they  sew. 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Biting  thread  and  holding  up 
little  pair  of  boy's  trousers)  There!  Thank  good- 
ness, that's  done!  (Turns  them  about,  showing  the 
huge  patches  of  a  very  different  color  from  the  origi- 
nal garment.) 

Miss  CARROLL.  For  the  land's  sake,  Ruthie! 
(Points  to  the  garments.)  Whatever  did  you  put 
that  kind  of  patches  on  them  kind  of  pants,  will  you 
tell  me? 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Looking  over  at  them,  instead 
of,  more  simply,  turning  them  about)  What's  the 
matter  with  'em?  Them's  neat  patching.  I'd  have 
you  know — too  neat  for  a  Mission  child ! 

Miss  CARROLL.  Neat — yes  !  But  the  color  scheme ! 

MRS.  GREGG.  (Holding  up  a  little  coat,  likewise 
with  ill-chosen  patches  at  elbows)  Well — here's  a 
Joseph-cocrf,  to  match  up  with  'em.  Maybe  the 
same  little  boy  will  get  both  of  them,  and  then  he'll 
have  a  whole  crazy-patch  suit. 

Miss  CARROLL.    I'd  laugh  if  he'd  kick  up  a  rum- 


POLLYANNA  7 

pus  and  not  wear  'em !     I  daresay  even  mission  chil- 
dren have  self-respect. 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Well — let  him  kick !  Beggars 
can't  be  choosers,  mind !  (Lays  garment  aside  and 
takes  up  a  velvet  waist,  dean  but  faded.)  Now  for 
the  next  rag! 

MRS.  GREGG.  Well,  I'm  no  fashion  plate,  but  I'd 
rather  go  about  in  a  winding-sheet  than  wear  clothes 
out  of  a  Mission  barrel.  Talk  about  Christianity — 
here  we  are — church  members  an'  church  workers — 
sendin'  missionaries  off  to  benighted  spots,  and  ship- 
ping them  canned  food  to  starve  on,  and  packing 
barrels  full  of  old  rags  to  dress  on.  Oh !  It  makes 
me  mad,  it  does — the  way  we  treat  our  mission- 
aries ! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Staring  at  the  woman)  Why, 
Mrs.  Gregg!  What  are  you  advocatin'  any  way  f 
Stylish  missionaries?  Tain't  within  reason! 

(Ready  DOOR  Slam  Off  Stage.) 

MRS.  GREGG.  "Washed  and  patched" — yes! 
(Snatches  up  a  freakish  hat — Miss  CARROLL  turns.) 
What  missionary  could  soul-save  in  that  concoction ! 
No  wonder  the  salvation  business  is  droppin'  off! 
(Drops  it  hatefully.  Miss  CARROLL  goes  back  left 
for  garments.)  \Vhoever  heard  of  a  stylish  mis- 
sionary? Lookin'  dowdy  an'  gettin'  themselves  up 
like  sin  is  a  part  of  the  missionary  business. 

(NANCY  speaks  off  stage,  at  door  upper  right.) 

(DOOR  Slam  off  Stage.) 

NANCY.  Pull  the  bell-cord,  somebody.  Oi'm 
comin' !  (Kicks  door  open  unth  foot  and  enters  with 
tray  containing  lemonade  in  three  glasses  and  a  sugar 
bowl.  Ladies  are  visibly  pleased  at  the  sight  of  a 
cool  drink.)  It's  leming-ade,  it  is.  Miss  Polly  made 
it  herself,  she  did,  an'  said  you'd  loike  it  better 'n 
tay  on  a  hot  day.  (Comes  center  and  holds  tray  to 


8  POLLYANNA 

MRS.  CARMODY.  J  There's  no  use  lookin*  for  the 
biggest  one — they're  all  the  same  size.  (Goes  to 
MRS.  GREGG  at  back  of  table  left.) 

MRS.  GREGG.  Now,  ain't  that  thoughtful  of  Miss 
Polly ! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  An'  they're  a  luxury,  too — 
lemons  is,  this  time  of  year! 

Miss  CARROLL.     In  the  best  glasses,  too. 

NANCY.  Yes,  an'  don't  break  'em,  or  your  goose 
is  cooked  without  an  oven!  (Explosively.  Goes 
back  of  table  right.)  Miss  Polly 'd  drop  dead  of 
grief  if  you  even  so  much  as  nicked  'em !  (Puts 
tray  on  table  right.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Next  time  I'll  bring  my  ozvn 
tumbler!  (Clasps  glass  securely  as  if  fearful  of 
dropping  same.) 

NANCY.  (Goes  centre,  encouraged  by  this) 
They're  a  thousand  years  old,  them  glasses 

MRS.  CARMODY.     Oh! 

NANCY.  Yes,  an'  more!  They  was  here  when 
the  world  was  made — just  sittin'  out  in  space  waitin' 
for  the  great  Harrington  Family  to  be  born! 

MRS.  GREGG.    Oh,  Nancy!  1 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Clicking  tongue)  \-  (Together.) 
Did  you  ever!  } 

NANCY.  (Crossing  heart  piously)  Cross  my 
heart,  it's  true — ask  Miss  Polly !  Oi'm  as  afraid  as 
death  to  touch  anything  in  this  house,  Oi  am,  for 
fear  it'd  crumble  into  dust,  with  age!  See  them 
candlesticks?  (Indicates  candlesticks  on  mantel 
over  fireplace)  The  Lord  had  'em  in  His  hands 
when  He  came  to  create  the  world ! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Now,  Nancy!  (MRS.  GREGG 
chuckles.) 

NANCY.  Sure  He  did !  To  light  the  way !  (Cre- 
scendo. Points  awkwardly  off  left.)  An'  you  know 
them  sacr'd  trees  in  the  front  yard?  Well — they 


was  the  ones  Adam  and  Eve  climbed  up  to  get  the 
forbidden  fruit!     (MRS.  GREGG  laughs  aloud.) 

(Miss  CARROLL  rises.) 

MRS.  GREGG.     Really? 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (To  MRS.  GREGGJ  No,  there's 
not  a  word  of  truth  in  it. 

NANCY.  (Crossing  heart)  Honest  to  Gawd! 
The  very  trees!  (Then  very  loud)  An'  the  silver 
spoons  .  .  . 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Now,  now,  Nancy — you're  hired 
to  work  with  your  hands — not  your  tongue.  Here 
— put  some  more  sugar  in  my  glass !  (Holds  glass 
toward  her.) 

NANCY.  Say  please  .  .  .  (Grins  at  MRS.  CAR- 
MODY'S  stern  face.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Rising,  turning  an  astounded, 
angry  face  toward  the  girl)  Certainly  not!  Please 
or  no  please,  I  want  that  sugar. 

NANCY.  (Goes  up  to  barrel)  If  yez  want  it — 
take  it !  (Frowns  at  woman.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Going  over  right.  Angrily  div- 
ing into  sugar  and  stirring  her  lemonade  viciously) 
Oh !  Such  impudence !  Polly  Harrington  must  be 
hard  up  for  help  to  put  up  with  such  as  you!  I 
never  would ! 

NANCY.  (Discovers  barrel — stoops  and  lifts  up 
strange,  old-fashioned  garment.  Laughs.)  Ha,  ha! 
If  it  isn't  Mrs.  Flack's  old  basque!  Heaven  help 
the  haythen !  Nan  can't  and  you  devils  won't. 

OMNES.     Nancy! 

NANCY.  And  that's  your  idea  of  convertin*  the 
haythen !  It's  Hell's  own  Christians  you  are ! 

MRS.  GREGG  and  MRS.  CARMODY.  (Together)  Oh ! 
Gracious  !  Listen  to  that ! 

(MRS.   CARMODY  goes  left.     NANCY  drops  basque 
into  barrel  as  if  it  were  a  snake.    Enter  Miss 


io  POLLYANNA 

POLLY  upper  right.  She  has  been  in  the  dining 
room  waking  lemonade.  She  is  carrying  pitcher 
of  lemonade.) 

Miss  POLLY.     (Going  left)    Well,  ladies 


(Ladies  speak  more  or  less  in  unison.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.    It's  fine,  Polly. 

MRS.  GREGG.    Delicious!    We  went  right  on! 

Miss  POLLY.  That  was  right.  Let  me  fill  your 
glasses ! 

MRS.  CARMODY.     No,  thanks! 

Miss  POLLY.  No?  You  are  abstemious!  (Goes 
to  right  table,  places  pitcher  on  tray  and  sits  left  of 
right  table.  Sees  NANCY  staring  at  her.)  Well, 
Nancy — remember  you  are  to  go  to  the  station  to 
meet  my  orphan  niece  at  five ! 

LADIES.  (Quickly  —  together)  Niece — orphan 
niece?  Why,  Polly! 

NANCY.  Faith,  an'  I  was  that  busy  entertainin' 
the  ladies.  Oi  clean  forgot,  I  did. 

Miss  POLLY.  Indeed!  Well,  now  that  I'm  here, 
I  will  relieve  you  of  that  responsibility — so  change 
your  frock  and — go. 

NANCY.  Sure,  Miss  Polly.  (Again  about  to  go 
out  upper  right.) 

Miss  POLLY.  Er — you  may  air  the  hall  bedroom — 
first! 

NANCY.  Hall  bedroom?  Miss  Polly,  why  do  you 
put  the  lady  in  the  hall  bedroom? 

Miss  POLLY.  (Testily)  That  is  my  affair,  Nancy, 
and  not  yours — and,  besides,  my  niece  is  not  a  lady, 
but  a  small  child! 

NANCY.  (Aghast)  A  small  child?  (Peers  into 
Miss  POLLY'S  immobile  face.)  Comin'  to  live,  wid 
you? 

Miss  POLLY.    Yes • 


POLLYANNA  11 

NANCY.  (Piously  crossing  self  and  glancing  up- 
wards) Whist !  Tabloo  !  Holy  saints !  Martyrs ! 
The  poor  child  is  it !  (Goes  up  centre.) 

Miss  POLLY.  Nancy,  you  get  ready  at  once  and 
go  to  the  station.  (NANCY  starts  up.) 

NANCY.  (Turning  back)  But  how  will  I  know 
she's  her,  or  her  know  I'm  me,  at  all,  at  all? 

Miss  POLLY.  (Taking  letter  from  her  pocket  in 
apron)  I  think  the  child's  description  of  her  cos- 
tume will  identify  her.  (Opens  letter,  turns  pale.) 

NANCY.  Ooh !  Oi  didn't  know  yez  got  a  letter,  I 
didn't!  (Impolitely  peeks  over  at  letter  in  Miss 
POLLY'S'  hand.) 

Miss  POLLY.  (Reading,  half  to  herself,  till  she 
finds  what  she  wants)  Urn — "I  shall  be  alone"  .  .  . 

NANCY.  (Peering  hard)  Ooh — but  ain't  she  a 
grand  writer,  though,  the  little  dear! 

Miss  POLLY.  Don't  read  over  my  shoulder !  Yes 
— here  it  is !  (Reads  from  letter)  "I  will  wear  a 
red  checked  gingham  dress,  straw  hat,  light  hair  and 
freckles !"  (Then,  replacing  letter  in  envelope) 
Now,  do  you  think  you  can  identify  her? 

NANCY.  Sure,  a  strawberry  mark  would  be  easier. 
Lord  help  the  poor  darling!  (Mumbling  over  her 
words — then  to  herself  as  she  starts  upper  right.) 

Miss  POLLY.  Nancy,  will  you  stop  that  swear- 
ing! 

NANCY.  Swearing !  Oh,  God  look  down  on  you 
and  forgive  you,  you  poor  hathen!  I  was  praying. 

Miss  POLLY.     Praying! 

NANCY.  Yes,  praying — praying  like  the  devil  for 
a  small  child.  (Exits  upper  right.) 

Miss  POLLY.  (Throwing  up  hands)  Oh,  such  a 
girl !  (Then  apologetically)  I  trust  you  won't  mind 
her — she's  absolutely  undisciplined! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  I  wouldn't  have  one  of  her  tribe 
in  my  house  if  the  dirt  piled  sky  high!  However  do 


12  POLLYANNA 

you  put  up  with  her,  Polly  ?    Why  do  you  have  her 
about  ? 

Miss  POLLY.  Well,  she's  the  least  objectionable 
of  six  I've  tried  this  summer. 

MRS.  CARMODY.  But,  Polly — your  niece  that 
you're  expecting?  You — you  don't  mean  Charity's 
child? 

Miss  POLLY.  What  other  niece  have  I?  Yes — 
it  is  Charity's  little  daughter. 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Rises  and  crosses  to  centre) 
And  is  she  an  orphan?  You  don't  mean 

Miss  POLLY,  Her  mother  died  two  years  ago,  as 
you  know — and  her  father  last  week.  (Rises.) 

MRS.  GREGG.  Poor — little — thing!  (Shakes  head 
sadly.  Goes  to  work  box  on  table  by  window.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Going  to  centre)  Well,  well! 
So  the  Reverend  Whittier  is  dead !  I  wonder  who'll 
take  his  place  at  the  Mission? 

Miss  POLLY.  (Crosses  to  left  to  table — coldly) 
I  don't  know,  I'm  sure. 

MRS.  GREGG.  (Sits  at  table  left — alert)  Mission? 
(MRS.  CARMODY  tries  hard  to  keep  her  from  con- 
tinuing the  subject,  but  she  rattles  on.)  Why,  Miss 
Harrington,  you  don't  mean  to  say  that  you  had  a 
sister  a  missionary? 

Miss  POLLY.  She  married  a  missionary !  (Tran- 
sition— back  of  table  left)  Well,  now,  is  everything 
ready  to  be  put  in  the  barrel  ? 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Crosses  to  table  right — handling 
list — picks  it  up  from  table  right  centre)  Every- 
thing— and  here's  the  list.  (Crosses  to  right  of  table 
left.) 

Miss  POLLY.  (Reading  list)  Six  little  undershirts, 
seven  pairs  shoes — four  night  garments — twenty 
pairs  of  stockings — ten  pinafores — two  woollen 
dresses — four  suits  of  clothes — one  bonnet — one 
knitted  hood — and  one  baby  doll!  (Places  list  on 
table.) 


POLLYANNA  13 

MRS.  GREGG.  (Rises)  And  the  greatest  of  these 
is (Takes  up  doll.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.     Greatest!     What  do  you  mean? 

MRS.  GREGG.  The  baby  doll!  Just  what  I  say. 
And  that  one  baby  doll  will  bring  more  real  joy  into 
a  human  heart  than  all  the  boots  and  caps  and  under- 
shirts from  here  to  Guinea! 

(Miss  POLLY  takes  bundle,  knitted  hood  and  freak- 
ish hat  to  barrel.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Why,  Mrs.  Gregg — that's  almost 
heresy,  or  blasphemy,  or — something!  (Turns  up 
to  top  of  table  left  and  examines  garments.) 

MRS.  GREGG.  (Sitting)  Well,  it's  the  truth,  any- 
way! And  I  know  whereof  I  speak,  when  I  place 
a  baby  doll — (Smiles  into  the  face  of  the  doll) — 
before  warm  clothing.  One  year  I  was  sent  by  the 
Board  to  visit  the  Missions  of  the  Church — that's 
how  I  know!  I  saw  them  all — the  Indian,  Dakota 
— Ozark!  (ALL  listen  attentively.)  All  of  them! 
I  especially  mind  the  Ozark!  Oh!  The  poverty 
of  that  poor  minister's  family — they  said  his  little 
girl  had  prayed  five  years  for  a  doll  and  as  yet  it 
hadn't  arrived.  (Addresses  baby  doll,  which  she 
holds  to  her  heart.) 

Miss  POLLY.     (Right  centre)     Oh! 

(Ladies  are  startled.     They  rise,) 

MRS.  CARMODY.    Why,  Miss  Polly! 

Miss  GREGG.     (Rises  left)     What  is  it? 

Miss  POLLY.  My  locket!  (Holds  out  her  black 
chain  from  which  the  locket  has  disappeared.  Cross- 
ing to  centre.)  Don't  stop,  please!  It's  so  fragile 
your  feet  would  crush  it.  (Searches  for  trinket  at 
her  feet.  Ladies,  too,  look  about.  MRS.  GREGG 
places  doll  in  rocking  chair.) 


14  POLLYANNA 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Going  up  to  left)  What  was 
it  like? 

Miss  POLLY.  Black  jet!  My  mother's.  An  heir- 
loom— my  dearest  treasure!  I  just  must  have  that 
clasp  repaired. 

MRS.  GREGG.  But  you  haven't  had  it  on  all  after- 
noon. I  wondered  why  you  had  left  it  off  your 
chain. 

POLLY.    You're  sure?    (Nervously.) 

MRS.  GREGG.     Positive! 

Miss  POLLY.  Then  I  must  have  dropped  it  up- 
stairs. Will  you  excuse  me?  (Starts  toward  door 
upper  left  centre.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.    Go  right  ahead ! 

MRS.  GREGG.     To  be  sure. 

Miss  POLLY.  Thank  you.  Go  ahead  with  the 
packing.  (Opens  door.)  Ladies — I — I'll  be  right 
back.  I'll  be  right  back. 

(Exit  Miss  POLLY  upper  left  centre.  She  is  seen 
to  go  upstairs  through  open  door.  Miss  CAR- 
ROLL softly  closes  door  upper  left  centre.) 

MRS.  GREGG,  (Left)  Well !  What  a  lot  of  mys- 
tery about  an  old  jet  locket! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Right)  It's  not  the  locket  that 
startled  her. 

MRS.  GREGG.     What  was  it? 

(Ready  Train  Whistle  off  stage.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Coming  down  centre)  Her  sis- 
ter died,  folks  say,  from  lack  of  nourishment,  heart 
as  well  as  stomach,  out  there  in  that  very  Ozark 
Mission  you  visited ! 

MRS.  GREGG.    (Astounded)    No! 

MRS.  CARMODY.    Yes ! 

(Enter  NANCY  right  upper,  dressed  for  the  train.) 


POLLYANNA  15 

NANCY.     (Coming  centre)    Where's  Miss  Polly? 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Right)  Upstairs,  looking  for 
her  locket. 

NANCY.  Her  locket !  Not  the  black  one  on  a  link 
chain  ? 

LADIES.     Yes ! 

NANCY.  (Piously — excitedly)  God  help  her,  is 
it  that  locket?  Blessed  Saint  Anthony  come  down 
this  minute  and  find  the  locket.  (Kneels  and  searches 
centre.)  It's  part  of  her.  She  sleeps  with  it  under 
her  pillow,  and  many's  the  time  when  I've  been 
peeking  through  the  keyhole,  I've  seen  her  look  in- 
side of  it,  at  a  face  ! 

MRS.  GREGG  (left),  MRS.  CARMODY  (right)  At  a 
face!  (All  close  in.) 

NANCY.  (On  knees)  Shure  it's  a  face!  What 
else  would  be  inside  a  locket?  A  wooden  leg?  An' 
she  shmiles  at  it,  she  does,  an'  sometimes  she  wapes, 
an'  when  she  shuts  it  to — (Pantomimes  closing  the 
locket) — she  heaves  a — soigh  !  Oh,  such  a  soigh! 
(Train  whistle  off  stage  left.  Pantomimes  deep 
sigh.)  Me  train !  (Rises.  Darts  to  door  upper  left 
centre.)  Tell  Miss  Polly  I've  went,  will  yez — an' 
oi'll  do  me  best  to  bring  her  the  roight  orphant! 
(Then  loudly)  Re-check — gingham  hair — freckles — 
(Repeat  for  exit  upper  left  centre.  Exits,  banging 
door  behind  her.) 

MRS.  GREGG.  Why  doesn't  Miss  Polly  go  to  the 
station  herself  to  meet  the  poor  little  motherless 
thing,  I  wonder? 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Goes  centre)  Because  she  ain't 
going  to  pretend  any  welcome  she  don't  feel,  I 
reckon. 

MRS.  GREGG.  A  welcome  she  don't  feel — why, 
whatever  do  you  mean? 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Why,  don't  you  know?  These 
two  sisters  haven't  spoken  to  each  other  for  twenty 
years ! 


16  POLLYANNA 

MRS.  GREGG.     (Left)    Twenty  years ! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Centre)  Yes,  and  now  along 
comes  Charity's  child  dumped  right  into  the  lap  of 
Miss  Polly. 

MRS.  GREGG.  Why,  you're  gettin'  me  all  worked 
up !  Quick  !  Tell  me  about  it ! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Sits  right  of  table  right)  Ter- 
rible doin's,  Mrs.  Gregg !  They  began  twenty  years 
ago.  There  were  two  sisters —  Polly  and  Char- 
ity. John  Pendleton  was  in  love  with  Charity. 

MRS.  GREGG.  John  Pendleton?  The  Hermit?  I 
thought  he  was  a  woman-hater! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  But  he  wasn't  a  woman-hater — 
then!  He  was  crazy  in  love  with  Charity,  just  as 
his  friend,  Dr.  Chilton,  was  in  love  with  Miss  Polly ! 

MRS.  GREGG.  Oh,  tell  me  the  story!  Goodness 
me,  but  I'm  glad  I  came  to-day!  Here — let's  dump 
those  things  into  the  barrel,  then  down  and  talk! 

(MRS.  CARMODY  goes  toward  barrel.  MRS.  GREGG 
rushes  to  the  table  left  and  seises  parcel  and 
tosses  it  to  Miss  CARROLL.J 

MRS.  GREGG.  Here — now,  pinafores,  Miss  Car- 
roll. Rubbers,  Mrs.  Carmody.  (Tosses  another  par- 
cel to  Miss  CARROLL.J  Suits,  Miss  Carroll.  The 
stockings,  Mrs.  Carmody!  (Tosses  another  parcel 
which  MRS.  CARMODY  places  in  barrel.)  Under- 
shirts, anybody — dresses — and  stockings (Tosses 

things  to  Miss  CARROLL,  who  tosses  same  to  MRS. 
CARMODY,  who  places  them  in  barrel.)  — and  the 
bonnet (Places  bonnet  in  the  barrel.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Well,  twenty  years  ago,  rich  old 
Pendleton,  Sr.,  came  home  from  Europe  with  his 
son,  and  opened  the  big  house  opposite.  (Points 
right.)  And  when  young  Pendleton  caught  sight  of 
pretty  Charity  Harrington  peeking  through  the  big 
iron  gate,  it  was  love  at  first  sight  for  both  of  them 


m*  ^. 


POLLYANNA  17 

— if  there  is  such  a  thing.    Do  you  believe  in  love? 

Miss  CARROLL.     I — do — not! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Well — it  seems  they  did ;  so  they 
became  engaged,  as  did  Miss  Polly —  (Looks  toward 
door  upper  left  centre.) — and  Dr.  Chilton,  Pendle- 
ton's  friend.  So  the  gay  young  blades  hied  them- 
selves hither 

Miss  CARROLL.     Hied  hither!    That's  obsolete. 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Well,  obsolete  or  no  obsolete — 
just  the  same,  they  hied  hither  to  propose  to  old  man 
Harrington  for  their  sweethearts. 

MRS.  GREGG.    Yes — and  what  did  he  say? 

(MRS.  GREGG  always  transfers  her  attention  from 
one  to  the  other  as  she  speaks.) 

Miss  CARMODY.    He  said  No! 

MRS.  GREGG.     What  for? 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Because  old  Pendleton  was  an 
atheist  and  drove  fast  horses.  So  he  told  young 
Pendleton  not  only  he  couldn't  marry  Charity,  but 
couldn't  speak  to  her  again,  long  as  they  live.  Then 
young  Chilton  spoke  up  and  the  old  man  refused 
Polly  to  him  because  he  was  a  friend  of  Pendleton's. 
Oh !  They  had  an  awful  row  and  the  old  man  put 
both  young  men  out  of  the  house,  and  Chilton  called 

him An  old  devil!  And  Polly  heard  him  call 

her  father  that  and  never  spoke  to  him  again! 

Miss  CARROLL.  Yes — and  Charity  was  put  under 
lock  and  key!  There  the  father  hangs •  (Indi- 
cates picture  on  right  wall.) 

MRS.  GREGG.     (Excited)     Hangs! 

MRS.  CARMODY.     (Impatiently)     His  picture! 

MRS.  GREGG.    Oh,  shucks ! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Well — then  Pendleton  slipped  a 
note  to  Charity  asking  if  she'd  elope!  She  sent  back 
word  "Yes,"  and,  will  you  believe  it,  that  imp  of  a 
boy  went  to  work  and  hired  a  lot  of  Hungarians, 


i8  POLLYANNA 

and,  inside  of  a  month,  had  a  secret  tunnel  dug  from 
his  home  to  hers,  from  cellar  to  cellar — 

MRS.  GREGG.     Good  for  him! 

MRS.  CARMODY.     (Pointing  down)     Right  under 
this  room,  the  door  to  the  secret  tunnel  was!    Well, 
when  all  was  in  readiness,  he  sent  her  a  signal — 
Two  candles  in  the  window  instead  of  one!    So  they 
waited  and  waited  for  an  opportunity  to  escape. 

(Ready  DOOR  Slam  Upstairs.) 

Miss  CARROLL.  (Snappily,  quickly,  to  get  ahead 
of  the  story-teller)  It  came — 

MRS.  CARMODY.  On  an  awful  night !  How  well 
I  remember! 

fMiss  CARROLL  sighs.  Both  women  sigh  at  the  re- 
membrance of  the  "azvful"  night.  MRS.  GREGG 
turns  head  from  one  to  another,  swiftly  and 
comically,  as  they  piece  out  the  tale.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.  It  was  the  night  Beth  Hargrave 
died. 

Miss  CARROLL.  And  the  Post  office  burned  down— 

MRS.  CARMODY.    And  the  Bank  was  broke  into— 

Miss  CARROLL.  And  poor  Mrs.  Sncw,  a  bride, 
was  run  over  by  the  fire  engines  and  hasn't  walked 
a  step  since! 

MRS.  GREGG.  Gracious,  what  a  night !  (Glancing 
swiftly  from  one  to  another  at  their  speeches  and 
hitching  chair  closer.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Yes,  it  was  indeed  a  memorable 
night  for  this  village,  that  hadn't  had  a  thrill  in  fifty 
years.  Anyway — old  man  Harrington  got  out  of  his 
sick  bed  to  watch  the  fire,  with  Polly,  and  when  they 
went  to  fetch  the  prisoner,  little  Charity,  what  do 
you  think?  She  was  gone! 

MRS.  GREGG.     Gone? 

MRS.  CARMODY.  All  over  the  house  they  searched, 
but  no  Charity  could  they  find — then  suddenly  a 


POLLYANNA  19 

light  was  seen  to  gleam  from  the  cellar,  and  just  as 
the  lovers  were  about  to  make  their  escape  through 
the  tunnel — the  girl's  father  snatched  her  from  Pen- 
dleton's  arms ! 

(Door  SLAM  upstairs  left  upper.) 

(MRS.  GREGG  and  MRS.  CARMODY  rise.) 

MRS.  GREGG.  Oh,  of  course!  Interrupted  at  the 
most  thrilling  moment! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Sh!  (Then  an  idea  strikes  her.) 
Look  here !  We  want  to  stay  and  see  this  here 
Pollyanna,  don't  we? 

Miss  CARROLL.  (Seated)  Stayf  A  million  dol- 
lars wouldn't  bribe  me  to  leave ! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Then  get  busy  and  help  ww-pack, 
so  we'll  have  it  to  do  all  over  again!  (All  rush  to 

barrel  and  unpack.)  Here,  here (Crosses  to 

table  left.  Gircs  bundles,  they  place  them  on  right 
table;  MRS.  GREGG  goes  over  to  table  left  with  bun- 
dle.) Talk  about — inspirations!  (Crosses  to  right 
of  table  right.  Enter  POLLY  upper  left.  Goes  right 
centre.)  Well,  Polly,  did  you  find  your  locket? 
(Goes  left.) 

MRS.  GREGG.    (Left)    Yes — did  you  ? 

POLLY.    Not  yet.    (Goes  to  right  table  for  bundle.) 

Miss  CARROLL.     I'm  so  sorry ! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Crosses  left)  Too  bad.  One 
hates  to  go  and  buy  new  heirlooms! 

POLLY.  (Glancing  at  barrel)  Ladies!  Haven't 
you  finished  packing?  The  expressman  will  be  here 
any  minute!  It's  after  five!  (Crosses  to  barrel, 
puts  bundle  into  it.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.    No — we  got  to  talkin' 

Miss  CARROLL.  (Crosses  to  barrel,  giving  Miss 
POLLY  bundles.  Too  sweetly)  We  were  telling  Mrs. 
Gregg  about  poor  Charity's  romance 

Miss  POLLY.     (Freezingly)     Oh,  indeed! 


20  POLLYANNA 

MRS.  CARMODY.    (Too  sweetly)    And  yours! 

POLLY.     (Annoyed)     Please 

MRS.  CARMODY.  I  think  your  father  did  exactly 
right  in  sending  Charity  out  to  a  mission-field  to  get 
away  from  a  fast  man ! 

(Ready  SLAM  offstage  left  upper.) 

Miss  POLLY.  (Coldly)  I've  never  discussed  my 
sister's  affairs — nor  permitted  them  to  be  discussed 
in  my  presence! 

MRS.  CARMODY.    And  you're  right!    Now  if  it  was 


your  own 

Miss  POLLY.     (Testily)    No,  not  my  own,  either! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Going  right  centre)  Good  for 
you!  I  always  uphold  you  in  that,  Polly!  And 
when  the  busybodies  get  to  gossipping  .  .  .  (Miss 
POLLY  goes  to  left  table  for  bundle.)  — about  you 
and  Dr.  Chilton,  never  speakin'  for  twenty  years — 
/  just  up  and  won't  listen!  (Crosses  to  right — sits 
behind  table.) 

(Miss  CARROLL  sits  on  couch.    Miss  CARROLL  and 
MRS.  GREGG  exchange  glances.) 

Miss  POLLY.  (Wearily)  I  hope  you  don't,  I'm 
sure.  (Takes  bundle  from  left  to  barrel.  Sighs.) 

Miss  CARROLL.  Aren't  you  worried  about  this 
new  responsibility? 

Miss  POLLY.  (Coming  centre)  Well — frankly 
speaking,  I  am! 

Miss  CARROLL.     I  don't  blame  you! 

MRS.  GREGG.  Nonsense — the  loveliest  thing  in  the 
world  is  a  child  in  the  home. 

POLLY.  I'm  not  so  sure!  After  all — I  question 
the  wisdom  of  my  sending  for  the  child.  I'm  afraid 
I'll  be  a  nervous  wreck ! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Nervous  wreck !  You'll  be  lucky 
if  you  ain't  stark  mad. 

POLLY.    (Really  worried)    Well — I've  this  refuge 


POLLYANNA  21 

left !    If  she's  utterly  undisciplined  and  beyond  me — 
I'll  send  her  off  to  school!     (Goes  right  to  table.) 
(Door  SLAM  offstage  upper  left.) 
Miss  CARROLL.     Sh!     Maybe  that's  her  now! 

(Enter  NANCY  upper  left  smilingly.) 

NANCY.  Sh!  (All  look  up.)  Your  orphan's 
come!  (Sonorously)  Miss  Pollyanna  Whittier! 
(Stands  aside  left.) 

(Enter  POLLYANNA  in  her  red-check  frock  and  wear- 
ing a  quaint  hat  and  carrying  a  little  -valise  and 
small  basket  of  flowers.) 

NANCY.     Your  aunt,  Miss  Polly  Harrington. 

POLLYANNA.  (Rapturously,  dropping  everything 
and  dashing  to  her  aunt.  Puts  arms  about  POLLY'S 
neck — others  rise.)  Aunt  Polly — dear  Aunt  Polly! 
I'm  so  glad  to  be  here — and  so  glad  to  see  you — and 
so  glad  you're  beautiful ! 

(NANCY  places  valise  and  basket  left  and  exits  upper 
left,  closing  doors.) 

Miss  POLLY.    There,  there,  child 

POLLYANNA.  You're  just  like  what  my  mother 
told  me  you  were  like.  She  said  you  were  like  a 
beautiful  painting,  and  you  are! 

Miss  POLLY.  That  will  do,  Pollyanna (Gent- 
ly unclasps  childish  arms.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Hurt)  Oh,  Aunt  Polly — you're 
disappointed  in  me,  aren't  you  ?  I  expect  maybe  you 
thought  I'd  be  pretty,  didn't  you?  (Sighs.)  It's 
hard  when. you're  expecting  a  pretty  little  girl — to 
have  one  like  me  walk  in  !  Isn't  it  ? 

MRS.  GREGG.     Bless  her  heart! 

POLLYANNA.     But  my    freckles   may   fade,   you 


22  POLLYANNA 

know,  and  a  miracle  may  curl  my  hair.  Oh,  I'm 
crazy  about  miracles,  aren't  you? 

Miss  POLLY.  (Moves  up  right  centre)  Where 
are  your  manners,  Pollyanna?  Speak  to  Mrs. 
Gregg,  and  Mrs.  Carmody,  and  Miss  Carroll  of  our 
Ladies'  Aid! 

POLLYANNA.  Ladies'  Aiders?  Oh,  how  perfectly 
splendid!  Why — the  Ladies'  Aiders  are  the  only 
mother  I  have  had  since  my  own  sweet  mother  died. 
Please,  may  I  kiss  you  ?  ( Crosses  right — first  throws 
hat  in  chair  left  of  table  right.  Goes  to  them  right, 
kissing  them  each  in  turn.  They  sit,  embarrassed. 
Goes  left  to  MRS.  GREGG,  who  takes  her  to  her  heart.) 
Thank  you,  so  much ! 

(MRS.  CARMODY  and  Miss  CARROLL  exchange  dis- 
approving glances  and  wipe  off  the  kiss.  POLLY- 
ANNA  spies  barrel.  Goes  to  it  and  kneels.) 

POLLYANNA.  And  my  dear  friend,  Barrel !  Don't 
you  know  me,  Barrel?  I'm  Pollyanna.  This  frock 
came  out  of  your  sister  barrel,  and  that  lovely  hat 
and  these  shoes ;  and  I  thank  you,  dear  Barrel,  for 
I  love  every  stitch  you've  ever  given  me,  whether  it 
fits  or  not.  Dear — dear  Barrett!  (Kisses  barrel.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Ain't  she  the  spittin'  image  of 
her  mother? 

Miss  POLLY.  (Right  centre)  Why  aren't  you  in 
black,  Pollyanna? 

POLLYANNA.  (Quickly  to  left  centre)  Oh,  please 
don't  think  me  disrespectable  for  not  being  in  black, 
Aunt  Polly — but  you  see  there  were  so  little  black 
things  in  the  last  barrel — only  the  black  lady's  velvet 
basque — I  mean  the  basque  was  black,  not  the  lady! 

And,  besides (Swallows  hard.)  — besides — it 

would  be  a  good  deal  harder  to  be  glad  in  black! 
(POLLYANNA  lowers — blinks  back  the  tears.) 

Miss  POLLY.     (Shocked)     Glad! 


POLLYANNA  23 

LADIES.    Glad! 

POLLYANNA.  Yes — glad  that  father's  gone  to 
Heaven ! 

(MRS.  CARMODY  and  Miss  CARROLL  shocked.) 

LADIES.     (Incredulously)     "Glad"  your  father — 

POLLYANNA.    He  told  me  I  must  be  glad. 

MRS.  CARMODY.    Glad  he  died? 

POLLYANNA.  Why,  he  went  straight  to  Heaven. 
He  said  that  after  being  a  Missionary  in  the  Ozark 
Mountains  for  fifteen  years,  Heaven  just  had  to  be 
an  improvement.  (Short  pause — then,  with  pathos) 
It's  been  hard  to  be  glad ;  7  wanted  him  to  stay  with 
me.  But — but  now  I'm  sure  it  will  be  easier — now 
that  I've  got  you!  Oh,  I'm  so  glad  I've  got  you, 
Aunt  Polly!  Are  you  glad  you've  got  me?  (Em- 
braces her  aunt  and  beseeches  encouraging  word.) 

(MRS.  GREGG  goes  left  and  sits  in  chair.) 

Miss  POLLY.  (Withdrawing  POLLYANNA'S  arms) 
There — there,  now.  Compose  yourself,  Pollyanna. 
And  sit  down — there's  a  chair.  (Indicates  chair  left 
of  table  left.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Suddenly  spies  doll  in  chair  right 
of  table  left)  Oh,  Aunt  Polly !  How  sweet  of  you 
to  plan  this  surprise !  (Rushes  to  doll  and  lifts  it 
with  greatest  care.)  Oh,  at  last — at  last  it  is  the 
answer  to  my  prayer!  Oh!  Oh!  (Hugs  doll  to 
heart. ) 

Miss  POLLY.  (Gently  taking  doll — upward — from 
her  arms)  You  are  mistaken,  Pollyanna.  The  doll 
is  not  meant  for  you.  (Turns  to  barrel.)  It  goes  in 
the  barrel — to  a  Mission — to  another  girl. 

POLLYANNA.  (Dazed)  Another  little  girl?  Oh, 
I — I  see  !  (Masters  her  emotion — continues)  Oh — 
oh,  well !  I'm  glad — for  that  other  little  girl !  Just 


24  POLLYANNA 

as  I  was  glad  when  the  crutches  came  in  the  barrel 
when  I'd  prayed  for  a  doll!  I  was  glad  I  didn't 
have  to  walk  with  crutches — I  was  glad- 
Miss  CARROLL.  I  never  heard  so  much  talk  about 
being  glad  in  my  life !  To  hear  you  talk,  one'd  think 
you'd  be  glad  if  you  had  to  wear  false  teeth — like 
Mrs.  Carmody  there! 

(Miss  POLLY  removes  hat  from  chair  and  places  it 
on  chair  left  of  fireplace,  and  then  returns  to 
right.) 

POLLYANNA.  (With  a  glance  at  MRS.  CARMODY, 
who  is  angry)  I  would  if  it  made  me  look  as  nice 
as  she  does.  (MRS.  CARMODY  pleased.)  I'd  be  glad ! 
(Sits  right.) 

Miss  CARROLL.  What  the  dickens  is  all  this  glad, 
glad,  glad? 

POLLYANNA.     (Delighted)     It's  a  game! 

MRS.  GREGG.    A  game? 

POLLYANNA.  (Crosses  left — sits)  Father  in- 
vented it.  He  got  the  idea  from  the  "Rejoicings." 
(Crosses  and  sits  right  of  left  table.) 

LADIES.     "Rejoicings?" 

POLLYANNA.  Yes,  you  know,  the  texts  that  be- 
gin, "Be  glad  in  the  Lord  and  rejoice!"  or,  "Rejoice 
greatly,"  or  "Shout  for  joy!"  Aren't  they  exciting? 
Father  counted  them  one  day  when  he  felt  very 
downhearted — and  there's  eight  hundred  of  them. 
That  made  him  feel  better  right  away.  He  said  if 
God  took  the  trouble  to  tell  us  eight  hundred  times 
to  be  glad,  He  must  want  us  to  do  it !  Some! 

MRS.  GREGG.     Think  of  it — eight  hundred  times. 

POLLYANNA.    Oh,  it's  such  a  jolly  game. 

MRS.  CARMODY.     What  is  the  game? 

POLLYANNA.  Why — it's  to  find  something  in 
everything  to  be  glad  about.  (Rises.)  I'll  tell  you 
what.  Come  on  and  let's  play  it.  Then  you'll  all 


POLLYANNA  25 

know.    First,  you,  Mrs.  Gregg — what  are  you  glad 
for? 

MRS.  GREGG.  (Brightly)  Me?  Oh,  Lord!  I'm 
glad  for  everything.  Glad  I  wasn't  born  dead — glad 
I've  only  got  one  husband 

(Miss  POLLY  goes  left  to  cabinet  with  notebook  and 
places  scissors  in  work  basket.  Places  valise  by 
window  and  flower  basket  on  work  table.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Rises — popping  up  and  down  with 
delight  that  the  ladies  have  taken  to  her  "game"  so 
quickly)  Now  it's  your  turn,  Mrs.  Carmody! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Sourly)  What's  the  use  ?  She's 
taken  all  the  best  things !  I  suppose  I'll  have  to  be 
satisfied  with (Glances  up  and  sees  the  frown- 
ing face  of  Miss  CARROLL. )  I  know !  I'm  glad  I'm 
not  an  obsolete  old  maid  !  That's  what  I'm  glad  for ! 

Miss  CARROLL.  (Gives  her  hateful  little  toss  of 
head)  I'm  glad  I'm  a  good  Christian,  otherwise  I 
might  commit  murder  in  a  minute  and  hang  for  it! 

(Miss  POLLY  goes  over  to  right  centre.) 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  what  a  lovely  glad !  Now  you, 
Aunt  Polly. 

Miss  POLLY.  Now,  now,  child — that  is  quite 
enough  talking  for  one  day ! 

POLLYANNA.  (Resuming  seat  left)  Oh,  it's  such 
fun!  (Slips  off  chair.)  Gracious,  but  this  chair's 
slippery ! 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Goodness  me!  What  an  active 
little  proposition ! 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  I  forgot!  (Scrambles  to  feet.) 
I've  got  a  present  for  you,  Aunt  Polly!  Wait! 
(Rushes  off,  door  upper  left  centre — skating  the  last 
yard.) 

LADIES.     (Aghast)     Oh!  !  ! 


26  POLLYANNA 

Miss  POLLY.  (Angrily)  Pollyanna!  (Goes  to 
rocking  chair  left  and  sits.) 

Miss  CARROLL.  Thinks  the  house  is  a  skating 
rink. 

POLLYANNA.  (Enters  with  basket — places  it  on 
floor  centre.)  Now,  Aunt  Polly,  get  ready  to  smile. 
(Unhooks  lids,  kneeling  on  floor.)  To  you — from 
me — with  love!  (Lifts  out  a  kitten — then  a  puppy.) 
Sodom  and  Gomorrah! 

(Miss  CARROLL  and  MRS.  CARMODY  exchange 
shocked  glances  and  repeat,  "Sodom  and  Go- 
morrah." LADIES  all  rise,  squeal,  and  draw 
back  skirts.  POLLYANNA  puts  puppy  back  in 
basket.) 

AUNT  POLLY.    Sodom  and  Gomorrah ! 

POLLYANNA.  (Rises  and  crosses  to  Miss  POLLY 
left  centre — places  tiny,  half-starved,  meiving  kit- 
ten on  AUNT  POLLY'S  lap.)  There!  !  ! 

Miss  POLLY.  (Rises  with  little  scream,  drawing 
back,  afraid  of  the  mangey  little  things.)  Ow ! 
Take  it  away !  Take  it  away ! 

POLLYANNA.  (Looking  at  it  closely)  What's  the 
matter  with  it? 

Miss  POLLY.  (Sharp  and  excited)  Matter  with 
it?  Everything's  the  matter  with  it !  Take  it  away, 
I  tell  you! 

POLLYANNA.  (Surprised  tone — though  not  ex- 
cited, as  is  Miss  POLLY,)  Why,  Aunt  Polly !  Don't 
you  like  kittens? 

Miss  POLLY.  Like  them  ?  I  loathe  them !  Take 
it  aivay! 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  very  well.  (Puts  kitten  back 
in  basket.  Takes  puppy  out  of  basket.)  Not  pup- 
pies, either?  (Holds  puppy  to  Miss  POLLY.) 

Miss  POLLY.  No!  I  despise  them!  Ow!  Call  it 
off !  (Scrambles  back  out  of  its  reach  to  left.) 


POLLYANNA  27 

POLLYANNA.  (Kneeling  on  the  floor,  holding  up 
the  dog)  He  wouldn't  hurt  you.  Oh,  Aunt  Polly, 
it's  only  a  baby  puppy.  (Cuddles  it  in  her  anus  and 
addresses  it)  Aren't  you  only  a  baby  puppy  ?  (Then 
resignedly)  See !  !  !  He  loves  you.  He's  wagging 
his  little  taily — waily.  (She  wriggles  his  tail — kisses 
him.) 

Miss  POLLY.  Polly  anna — stop  hugging  that  man- 
gey  brute !  Heaven  only  knows  what  bacteria  it 
carries  in  its  filthy  coat !  Throw  it  out,  I  tell  you — 
(Calls  aloud)  Nancy! 

(Enter  NANCY  immediately  upper  left  centre.) 

NANCY.     (Suppressing  a  grin)    Yes,  Miss  Polly? 

Miss  POLLY.  (Goes  around  table  to  centre) 
Take  these  animals  out 

NANCY.  Shure,  Miss  Polly (Conies  centre 

for  basket.) 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  Nancy,  dear — please  don't  hurt 
them! 

NANCY.  (Giving  her  sly  nudge  and  wink)  The 
Saints  bliss  ye — Oi  wouldn't  harm  a  hair  of  their 
heads,  or  tails.  (Takes  up  basket — smiling  at  child.) 

POLLYANNA.     Thank  you,  Nancy. 

Miss  POLLY.  (Testily,  to  NANCY,)  Don't  stop 
to  talk — go!  (NANCY  exits  upper  left  centre.) 
And  as  for  you.  Potty  anna — get  up  in  that  chair  and 
behave  yourself (Business.)  Do  you  hear? 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  yes,  indeed!  (Crosses  left.) 
My  hearing  is  perfectly  good,  thank  you,  Aunt 
Polly.  (Resumes  rocking  chair  quickly  and  pleas- 
antly.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (To  Miss  CARROLL,  referring  to 
child's  last  line)  Did — you — ever?  I  believe  they've 
got  'em  mixed  and  sent  a  heathen  instead  of  a  mis- 
sionary. 

POLLYANNA.    (Rocking  back  and  forth  in  her  nice 


28  POLLYANNA 

chair  and  singing  rapidly)     "Shall  we  gather  at  the 
river —       The     bee-you-tiful — the     bee-you-tiful — 


Miss  POLLY.    My  best  chair 

(LADIES  stop  and  gasp  at  this  latest  explosion. 
POLLYANNA  jumps  up  from  rocker  and  goes 
quickly  to  chair  left  of  left  table — spies  locket, 
which  she  opens  and  holds  up  to  view.) 

POLLYANNA.  Oh!  What — a — bee-you-tiful  locket! 
'  Miss  POLLY.    Locket  ?    Then  I  did  drop  it  here ! 
POLLYANNA.     And  what  a  pretty  man  inside! 

(LADIES  all  rise.     MRS.  CARMODY  rises  and  comes 
forward.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Pretty  man Oh,  Polly, 

what's  that? 

Miss  POLLY.  (Dashing  toward  the  child)  That 
will  do,  Pollyanna!  (Snatches  locket  from  her.) 
Come!  I  will  show  you  your  room.  (Grabs  her 
hand  and  starts  rapidly  and  instantly  upstage,  POLLY- 
ANNA  being  dragged  along.)  You  will  excuse  me, 
ladies  ? 

LADIES.  Certainly — go  right  ahead — don't  mind 
us. 

POLLYANNA.  (Smiling  brightly  at  them)  I'll  be 
right  back,  Ladies'  Aiders!  !  !  (But  she  is  whirled 
out  of  the  room  and  up  the  steps  before  she  can  say 
more.  LADIES  come  to  centre.) 

MRS.  GREGG.  (Left  centre)  Well!  !  !  (Laughs, 
but  suppresses  same.) 

MRS.  CARMODY  and  MRS.  GREGG.  A  pretty  man 
inside!  A  pretty  man  inside! 

MRS.  GREGG.  Yes,  but  what  I  want  to  know  is 
how  comes  it  this  child's  mother  married  a  mission- 
ary when  she  was  in  love  with  Pendleton? 


POLLYANNA  29 

Miss  CARROLL.  Why — her  father  sent  her  to  a 
mission-field  to  get  away  from  Pendleton — there  to 
remain  for  life — to  expiate  her  sin! 

MRS.  GREGG.     Expiate  what  sin? 

Miss  CARMODY.  Why — tryin'  to  elope!  Ain't 
that  sinny  enough? 

MRS.  GREGG.     Well — what  then? 

Miss  CARROLL.  Well,  then,  she  expiated — then 
she  died!  That's  all! 

MRS.  GREGG.  Expiated  by  marrying  a  missionary, 
did  she? 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Yes.  At  least  she  could  have 
confidence  in  him,  even  if  he  wasn't  such  uproarious 
entertainment ! 

MRS.  GREGG.     But  Pendleton  hasn't  died? 

MRS.  CARMODY.  No,  but  he's  as  good  as  dead! 
For  twenty  years  he's  lived  in  that  mansion — (Points 
off  left) — alone.  Only  Dr.  Chilton  is  ever  admitted ! 

MRS.  GREGG.  Nobody  knows!  Poor  Miss  Polly! 
It's  a  terrible  thing  to  be  an  aristocrat  and  not  be 
able  to  show  your  feelings !  (Crosses  to  left.  Enter 
POLLY  wearily,  upper  left,  goes  right  centre.  Miss 
CARROLL  goes  right.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Goes  left  centre)  Well !  Did 
you  get  her  calmed  down,  Polly? 

Miss  POLLY.  Calmed  down?  She's  like  a  jack- 
in-the-box — she's  dozim  only  so  long  as  the  lid's  down 
— open  the  catch — (Pantomimes  "All  over  the 
place") — and  she's  all  over  the  place. 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Well,  we're  safe  for  a  little 
while,  anyway,  now  that  you've  got  her  locked  up  in 
her  room. 

Miss  POLLY.  Locked  up.  She  was  out  of  the 
window — on  to  the  kitchen  roof,  swinging  out  on  the 
apple  tree,  and  hand-over-hand — (Pantomimes) — 
down  the  trunk  into  the  garden  before  I  could  collect 
enough  breath  to  shout,  "Stop !" 

MRS.  GREGG.    For  the  land's  sake ! 


30  POLLYANNA 

MRS.  CARMODY.  (Crosses  to  POLLY.)  The  little 
imp !  First  thing  you  know  you'll  have  half  a  dozen 
broken  legs  to  splinter  up  and  take  care  of ! 

(MRS.  GREGG  suppresses  her  laughter.) 

POLLY.    And  guess  what  she  did  when  she  landed ! 

LADIES.    What?    Yes?    Do  tell! 

POLLY.  She  said — "Now  I  know  where  this  is! 
At  last  I'm  in  the  Garden  of  Eden !"  (Going  to  right 
centre.) 

(MRS.  GREGG  bursts  out  laughing,  but  seeing  that  the 
others  frown — suppresses  her  mirth.  MRS. 
CARMODY  goes  over  behind  table  right.  Enter 
POLLYANNA  upper  left  smilingly.) 

POLLYANNA.    Get  ready,  Aunt  Polly ! 

LADIES.     Get  ready? 

Miss  POLLY.    Get  ready  for  what? 

POLLYANNA.    For  another  surprise! 

Miss  POLLY.  Another  surprise!  (Throws  up 
hands.) 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  this  one's  a  beauty!  I  know 
you  will  be  pleased,  Aunt  Polly — now  get  ready  to 
smile!  (Rushes  in  with  JIMMY  BEAN.  NANCY  fol- 
lows on.)  Come  along,  Jimmy — there 

POLLY.  (Right  centre)  Pollyanna!  What  does 
this  mean? 

POLLYANNA.  (Left  centre)  This  is  Jimmy  Bean, 
Aunt  Polly.  Make  a  bow.  Jimmy.  (Bobs  his  head 
for  him.)  Isn't  he  sweet?  Don't  you  adore  him? 
Isn't  he  a  nice  gift? 

Miss  POLLY.    Gift!  !  ! 

POLLYANNA.    Yes,  aren't  you  glad? 

(The    boy   smiles   centre,    hoping    to    be   received. 
POLLYANNA  smoothes  his  tousled  hair.) 


POLLYANNA  31 

Miss  POLLY.  (Sarcastically)  Glad!  (Then 
sharply)  Pollyanna,  where  did  you  find  this  boy? 

POLLYANNA.  I  found  him  in  our  yard  trying  to 
crawl  through  that  big  hedge  into  the  yard  next 
door.  He's  run  away  from  the  Orphanage  where 
they  don't  have  any  mothers  and  things !  And  he 
wants  a  regular  home !  Isn't  he  a  dear  ?  Smile, 
Jimmy —  QIMMY  smiles  a  broad,  teethy  smile, 
none  too  mirthful,  however.)  See!  Hasn't  he  pretty 
teeth  ?  You  zvill  adopt  him,  won't  you,  Aunt  Polly  ? 
You  will  let  him  stay? 

Miss  POLLY.  (Explosively)  Let  him  stay? 
Adopt  him?  Are  you  mad,  Pollyanna?  Isn't  it 
enough  that  I  have  one  orphan  thrust  upon  me  with- 
out adding  to  my  troubles?  No,  I  will  not  adopt 

him  nor  will  I  let  him  stay (JIMMY'S  teethy 

smile  suddenly  dies.)  The  very  idea !  What  do 
you  mean  by  bringing  into  my  house  all  the  stray 
dogs  and  cats  and  dirty  little  beggars  you  find  along 
the  roadside? 

JIMMY.  (Standing  grandly  forth  in  defiant  atti- 
tude and  clenching  his  fist  as  he  retorts  to  the  wo- 
man) I'm  not  dirty  and  I'm  not  a  beggar!  I'm 
clean  as  anything — I  can  work,  I  can — and  I  wouldn't 
stay  here  if  you  said  I  could.  I  want  a  mother,  I 
do !  Not  your  kind,  so  there !  (Shakes  his  head 
defiantly.  POLLYANNA  pulls  JIMMY  up  stage  to 
NANCY,  then  goes  to  rocking  chair.) 

Miss  POLLY.  Nancy — send  that  ragamuffin  back 
where  he  belongs — then  show  Miss  Pollyanna  to  her 
room — there — to — remain!  !  ! 

NANCY.  (Unsmilingly)  Sure,  Miss  Polly.  (Makes 
face.) 

(MRS.  CARMODY  and  Miss  CARROLL  sit  in  chairs  right 
and  left  of  right  table.) 


32  POLLYANNA 

Miss  POLLY.  Well,  ladies,  don't  let  me  detain  you 
any  longer ! 

(After  an  embarrassed  pause  the  ladies  start  speak- 
ing in  order  indicated  until  they  are  all  talking 
at  once  and  bumping  into  each  other  in  their 
hurry  to  exit.) 

MRS.  CARMODY.  Yes,  yes,  we  must  go!  Well, 
good-bye,  Polly! 

Miss  CARROLL.    Good-bye.    Good  afternoon! 

MRS.  GREGG.    Good-bye,  Pollyanna! 

POLLY.  (Shaking  hands)  Good  afternoon,  ladies. 
(Goes  upper  left  centre  with  her  guests.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Crosses  to  chair  right  as  ladies  go 
up  stage — pleasantly  waving  hand)  Good-bye, 
Ladies'  Aiders !  And  don't  forget  to  be  glad ! 

(Exit  Ladies,  followed  by  Miss  POLLY  upper  left 
,  centre.) 

JIMMY.  (At  left  of  barrel)  Gee!  I've  got  some- 
thing to  be  glad  for—  I'm  glad  I  don't  live  here. 

(NANCY,  who   has  come   to  rocking   chair,   laughs 
loudly  and  rocks  on  arm  of  chair.) 

POLLYANNA.  Don't  be  discouraged,  Jimmy !  It's 
all  my  fault,  not  Aunt-  Polly's.  I'll  find  a  parent  for 
you  yet.  Yes,  two  of  them — who  knows? 

JIMMY.     (Wipes  his  eyes)     Honest? 

POLLYANNA.  There  are  a  lot  more  houses,  aren't 
there,  Nancy? 

NANCY.  Shure  they  be.  This  is  a  terrible  big 
village,  Jimmie. 

POLLYANNA.  I'm  sure  that  we  can  find  him  a 
mother,  aren't  you,  Nancy? 


POLLYANNA  33 

NANCY.  Sure,  Oi'm  sure !  Oi'll  get  him  a  grand- 
mother, too,  if  he  loikes. 

POLLYANNA.  There,  do  you  hear  that  ?  Now,  run 
back  to  the  Orphanage. 

JIMMY.    No,  not  yet.    First  I'm  going  to  explore. 

POLLYANNA.    Explore?    Explore  what? 

JIMMY.     Why 

POLLYANNA.  (Curiously)  Jimmy!  What  were 
you  trying  to  get  through  that  hedge  for  when  I 
found  you? 

JIMMY.  Tryin'  to  get  through  into  the  yard  next 
door. 

POLLYANNA.    What  for? 

JIMMY.  (Mysteriously)  Never  you  mind !  If  I 
do  get  through,  I'll  come  back  and  tell  you. 

NANCY.  (Taking  JIMMY  up  left)  Come  on, 
Jimmy !  You  get  back  to  the  orphanage  before  they 
miss  you. 

POLLYANNA.  Jimmy,  don't  forget  to  tell  me  if 
you  do  get  through. 

JIMMY.  (Turns)  No,  I  won't.  (Both  place  fin- 
gers on  lips,  sharing  a  secret.  NANCY  looks  back  at 
FOLLYANNA  with  finger  to  lips.) 

POLLYANNA.  That's  a  promise.  (Fingers  on  lips 
a?  Miss  POLLY  enters.) 

(As  JIMMY  turns,  upper  left  centre  door  opens  and 
Miss  POLLY  looks  in  doorway.  She  stops  and 
stares  at  him,  and  draws  back  her  dress  so  that 
she  may  not  be  contaminated  by  the  "great  un- 
washed." Likewise,  he  stops  and  stares — then 
edges  flatly  out  so  that  he  may  not  come  in 
contact  with  her.  He  never  takes  his  eyes  from 
her — and  as  he  gets  safely  past,  he  leaps  out 
and  dashes  off,  NANCY  folloiving.  POLLYANNA 
by  easy  chair  right,  jumping  with  knees  on 
seat.) 


34  POLLYANNA 

AUNT  POLLY.  (Facing  child)  Pollyanna!  I 
don't  understand  you  at  all.  You  are  the  most  ex- 
traordinary child  I  have  ever  known. 

POLLYANNA.  (Sweetly)  Oh,  that's  so  nice  of 
you  to  say  that,  Aunt  Polly — I'm  so  glad ! 

Miss  POLLY.  Nice?  Glad?  I  assure  you,  young 
lady,  my  remark  was  not  intended  as  a  compliment. 
Once  and  for  all — I  wish  it  clearly  understoood  that 
you  are  to  bring  into  my  house  no  more  zoological 
specimens  or  orphan  exhibits  !  Do  you  understand  ? 

POLLYANNA.    Yes,  Aunt  Polly. 

Miss  POLLY.    A«d  another  thing — I  want  no  fur- 
ther reference  to  the  picture  in  my  locket — ever! 
""  POLLYANNA.    But  I  can  feel  sorry  for  you,  can't 
I?     Please  let  me. 

Miss  POLLY.  No!  I  don't  wish  your  sympathy, 
either!  Sympathy  of  all  things! 

POLLYANNA.  All  right,  Aunt  Polly.  But  it  would 
be  such  a  pleasure  to  feel  sorry  for  you. 

Miss  POLLY.  T^ow'  remember,  you  must  adopt 
yourself  to  my  ways  if  you  expect  to  remain  with 
me — and  to  conform  to  my  rules. 

POLLYANNA.    Oh,  yes,  indeed,  Aunt  Polly. 

Miss  POLLY.  As  to  your  daily  routine — you  will 
rise  at  seven ;  breakfast  at  eight ;  read  aloud  till 
nine ;  have  a  cooking  lesson  at  ten ;  sew  till  eleven ; 
lunch  twelve.  Practice  your  music  till  two ;  do  your 
lessons  till  four ;  get  ready  for  supper  at  five ;  and 
in  bed  by  eight. 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  but  Aunt  Polly — you  haven't 
left  me  any  time  to  just  live! 

Miss  POLLY.  Live?  Aren't  you  living  when 
you're  working  ? 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  yes,  of  course,  I'll  be  breath- 
ing, but  breathing  isn't  really  living,  you  know.  It's 
just  going  on. 

Miss  POLLY.    What  more  do  vou  want? 


POLLYANNA  35 

POLLYANNA.  Why,  can't  I  have  a  little  time  to 
play  ? 

Miss  POLLY.  Certainly;  you'll  have  two  hours 
every  Saturday  afternoon. 

POLLYANNA.  (Bleakly — in  a  low  voice)  Thank 
you,  Aunt  Polly. 

Miss  POLLY.  And  remember,  I  shall  expect  some- 
thing in  return  for  all  this  care — don't  forget  that! 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  yes,  indeed — Aunt  Polly.  Not 
money — of  course,  for  I  have  no  money.  Ministers 
never  do  have,  they  say,  but 

Miss  POLLY.    7  am  speaking,  Pollyanna. 

POLLYANNA.    Oh,  excuse  me. 

Miss  POLLY.  I  shall  expect  implicit  obedience. 
And  another  thing,  you  are  not  to  speak  of  your 
parents. 

POLLYANNA.  (Astounded — smile  dies)  Not  speak 
of  my  parents?  (Almost  in  tears.)  Why,  Aunt 
Polly!  I — just — worshipped — my  darling — parents! 

Miss  POLLY.  (Interrupting)  This  is  a  very  gos- 
sipy place  and  I  don't  wish  our  family  affairs  dis- 
cussed in  the  village.  You  are  not  to  speak  of  your 
parents.  Nor  your  Mission — nor  your  "Ladies'  Aid- 
ers," as  you  call  them,  nor  anything  else  that  has  to 
do  with  your  former  life.  (Turns  away.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Aghast — beginning  to  feel  hurt) 
But  it's  the  only  life  I've  ever  lived,  Aunt  Polly! 
Why !  Why !  I  won't  be  able  to  talk ! 

Miss  POLLY.  That  is  as  it  should  be,  Pollyanna. 
Children  should  be  seen  and  not  heard.  After  this, 
you  will  kindly  speak  only  when  spoken  to. 

POLLYANNA.  (Humiliated  and  disillusioned)  Oh, 
Aunt  Polly,  have  I  displeased  you?  I'm  so  sorry! 
I  do  so  want  you  to  love  me.  (Steps  lightly  toward 
her — her  hands  out  pleadingly.) 

Miss  POLLY.  (Evading  a  possible  caress)  "Love" 
does  not  come  in  a  moment,  Pollyanna — love  grows! 
I  am  not  blaming  you  for  being  thrust  on  my  hands. 


36  POLLYANNA 

It  was  neither  your  fault  nor  mine,  but  the  fault  of 
circumstances!  But  we  must  make  the  best  of  it — 
both  of  us!  (Goes  back  to  table  right  for  tray.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Aghast)  "Best  of  it?"  Why, 
Aunt  Polly,  did — didn't  you  send  for  me?  Aren't 
you  glad  to  have  me?  D — do — don't  you  want  me? 
(Holding  out  her  lonely  little  arms  pathetically.) 

Miss  POLLY.  No,  Pollyanna,  there  is  no  reason 
for  me  to  dissemble — a  "lie"  is  never  justifiable! 
And  you  might  as  well  understand  in  the  beginning 
that  I  have  received  you  under  my  roof  purely  as  a 
matter  of  duty — it  rests  entirely  with  you  whether 
I  shall  be  "glad"  or  regret  my  action.  (Goes  with 
tray  up  right.) 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  Aunt  Polly!  (Tearfully)  If 
I'd  known  that (Blinks  back  the  tears.) 

Miss  POLLY.  That  will  do,  Pollyanna.  I  think 
you  understand  me.  (Exits  right  upper  with  tray.) 

POLLYANNA.  She  doesn't  want  me — she  doesn't 
want  me !  (Sits  in  rocking  chair  left.)  Oh,  dear 
Daddy  up  in  Heaven — they  don't  want  me  here! 
How  can  I  keep  being  glad?  I  can't  think  of  a 
thing  to  be  glad  for!  Please  tell  me  something — 
please 

(Enter  JIMMY  door  upper  left  centre.) 

JIMMY.     Pollyanna! 

POLLYANNA.  Jimmy !  (Runs  to  door  right  upper, 
looks  off  and  closes  it.  Comes  down  right.)  You 
never  went  back  to  the  Orphanage ! 

JIMMY.  (Comes  to  centre  mysteriously)  No, 
sir! 

POLLYANNA.  Jimmy,  don't  you  know  that  you'll 
get  a  licking  when  you  do  go  back  ? 

JIMMY.  Sure!  So  what's  the  use  of  going  till  I 
get  ready? 


POLLYANNA  37 

POLL'YANNA.  (Excited)  You've  been  crawling 
through  the  hedge  again!  (Sits  down  right.) 

JIMMY.     (Quickly)     Yes,  sir. 

POLLYANNA.    You  know  what  you  promised  me. 

JIMMY.    I  came  back  to  keep  my  promise! 

POLLYANNA.  (Eager,  hushed)  What's  on  the 
other  side  of  the  hedge? 

JIMMY.     A  castle! 

POLLYANNA.    A  castle?    With  a  king  in  it? 

JIMMY.    Um,  urn.     See  the  turret? 

POLLYANNA.  The  turret.  (Crosses  to  left — looks 
out  of  window.)  Why,  it  is  a  castle!  (Sits  left  in 
rocking  chair.) 

JIMMY.  Um,  um!  Giants  and  everything !  (Goes 
to  her.)  This  king  walks  around  in  there,  has  his 
folks  wait  on  him,  everybody  says,  and  never  sticks 
his  head  out. 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  Jimmy!  Wouldn't  you  like  to 
see  him? 

JIMMY.  Well,  what'd  you  think  I  was  tryin'  to 
do?  (Turns  to  right.) 

POLLYANNA.     What's  he  look  like? 

JIMMY.     I  dunno! 

POLLYANNA.  Dunno !  Didn't  you  see  him,  after 
all? 

JIMMY.  No,  I  didn't  see  him,  but  I  had  a  terrible 
adventure.  (Goes  to  her.) 

POLLYANNA.    Tell  me,  Jimmy. 

JIMMY.  Well,  there's  a  big  man  watchin'  on  the 
other  side  of  the  hedge,  and  soon  as  a  person  gets 
about  halfway  through,  this  big  man  comes  runnin' 
and  hits  you  with  the  flat  of  a  great  big  spade  just 
as  you  turn  around  to  go  back.  That's  why  I  didn't 
see  the  king.  (Goes  right,  rubbing  his  back.) 

POLLYANNA.     How  exciting! 

JIMMY.  So  a  fellow  doesn't  get  much  chance  to 
see  no  King? 

POLLYANNA.    Jimmy,  let  us  try  it! 


38  POLLYANNA 

JIMMY.    Ugh!     You  can't  get  through. 

POLLYANNA.    Jimmy,  I  just  haf  to  see  the  King. 

JIMMY.     You  couldn't  get  through  that  hedge! 

POLLYANNA.  (Rising)  Can't  I?  Come  on  and 
I'll  show  you!  (Runs  to  door  upper  left  centre.) 

JIMMY.  (Trying  to  frighten  her)  But  they  say 
he's  an  ogre — that's  no  place  for  a  girl — 

POLLYANNA.  (Excitedly)  Ogre — I  just  love 
ogres ! 

(WARNING.) 

JIMMY.    But  the  man  with  the  spade 

POLLYANNA.  (Comes  back  to  him)  There'll  be 
two  of  us  there  now.  While  he's  hittin'  one,  the 
other  can  look  at  the  king !  (Points  to  window  and 
goes  table  right  for  hat.) 

JIMMY.    Yes,  but — which  one'll  that  be? 

(Warn  CURTAIN.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Going  to  him)  Jimmy!  But  I'm 
goin'  to  have  such  fun  with  you.  I'm  so  glad. 

JIMMY.  Well,  when  the  man's  hittin'  one  of  us, 
what'll  you  find  then  to  be  glad  about? 

POLLYANNA.  I'll  be  glad  he  isn't  hittin'  both  of 
us.  Come  on. 

(Both  go  up  to  door.    Enter  Miss  POLLY  right  upper 
door.) 

Miss  POLLY.  Pollyanna,  what  does  this  mean? 
Oh,  that  dreadful  boy !  I  thought  I  sent  you  home, 
you  awful  boy!  Go  away  at  once,  and  you,  Polly- 
anna, come  to  your  room  this  instant,  and  for  this 
disobedience  you  shall  study  your  catechism  until 
supper.  Come,  Pollyanna,  do  you  hear  me? 

POLLYANNA.    Yes,  Aunt  Polly. 

(Exit  Miss  POLLY  right  upper,  saying,  "Then  mind, 

come,     come "      JIMMY    coming    toward 

POLLYANNA,  who  had  crossed  to  right.) 


POLLYANNA  39 

JIMMY.    Aw,  come  on. 

POLLYANNA.    'Sh !    (Claps  hand  to  head.) 

JIMMY.    What's  the  matter,  Pollyanna? 

POLLYANNA.  'Sh  !  I'm  tryin'  awful  hard  to  think 
of  something  to  be  glad  for. 

JIMMY.  I  know  something.  Be  glad  your  old 
aunt  ain't  twins ! 

POLLYANNA.  (Clapping  hands  over  JIMMY'S 
mouth)  'Sh ! 


ACT   II 

PLACE:   JOHN  PENDLETON'S  Library. 
TIME  :  Some  weeks  later. 

Footlights  and  first  border  lights  half  down. 
Back  border  (back  of  back  flat)  is  full  up. 
Fireplace  is  lighted. 

Handsome  old  room  with  panelled  walls, 
beamed  ceiling,  splendid  rugs  and  fine  old  fur- 
niture. Practical  door  lower  left  flat  leading 
to  outer  door.  Practical  door  in  upper  right 
flat  leading  to  dining  room.  Book  cases  against 
left  flat  up  and  down  stage.  Between  the  two 
book  cases  is  a  good-sized  cabinet  which  is 
closed.  POLLYANNA  makes  her  entrance  from 
this  cabinet  as  if  coming  from  the  tunnel  below. 
If  cabinet  is  not  available,  a  heavy  screen  can 
be  used  and  she  can  appear  from  behind  same. 
Two  high  French  windows  right  and  left  centre 
in  back  flat.  When  these  windows  are  opened 
we  see  a  hedge  row  behind  with  wood  drop. 
Between  these  windows  on  wall  is  the  portrait 
of  POLLYANNA'S  mother,  which  is  concealed  by 
draw-curtains  on  a  rod  and  worked  unth  a  cord. 
We  advise  that  these  curtains  be  the  same  color 
as  the  woodwork,  or  at  least  of  a  color  that  ivill 
not  draw  the  attention  of  the  audience  until  the 
Portrait  is  revealed.  Closed  cabinet  or  book 
case  against  flat  below  right  upper  door.  Old 
40 


POLLYANNA  41 

brass  candlesticks  with  prisms  on  book  cases 
left  and  cabinet  right.  Cellarette  left  of  left 
centre  window.  Pedestal  right  of  left  centre 
window. 

Fireplace  in  lower  right  flat  with  settee  drawn 
diagonally  before  same  heaped  with  pilloivs. 
Large  reading  table  with  many  drawers  stands 
in  centre  of  stage — armchair  right  of  same-- 
other chairs  about  the  room.  Books  and  maga- 
zines are  on  table — also  cigars,  matches,  writ- 
ing materials,  etc.  Plush  centre  cover. 

The  room  is  not  well  lighted,  as1  the  windows 
are  of  stained  glass.  The  general  atmosphere 
is  that  of  the  home  of  a  gloomy  recluse. 

DISCOVERED:  At  rise  of  curtain,  JOHN  PENDLETON 
sits  reading  magazine  at  right  of  table.  He  is 
evidently  recovering  from,  an  illness,  and  is 
dressed  in  soft  white  shirt  and  dark  trousers, 
dressing  gown  and  slippers.  He  is  a  handsome, 
ivell-bred  chap,  but,  judging  from  his  manner 
of  speech,  none  too  sweet-tempered.  A  cane  is 
at  the  side  of  his  chair. 
Silence  reigns. 

PENDLETON.  (Calls)  Bleecker,  Bleecker!  Con- 
found that  man !  Bleecker,  I  say (Goes  up  to 

cellarette  right,  gets  cards,  goes  back  and  sits.) 

BLEECKER.  (Voice  off  right  upper,  frightened) 

Oh,  Master  John — Master  John (PENDLETON 

frowns — turns,  and  stares  at  right  upper,  in  direc- 
tion of  this  surprising  confusion.  Frenzied  knock 
at  door  as  cry  continues.)  May  I  come  in,  sir, 
Master  John 

PENDLETON.  (Astonished)  What  the  devil - 

(Then  calling  loudly,  as  the  knocking  continues) 
Come  in — come  in!  Don't  pound  the  house  down! 


42  POLLYANNA 

(Enter  BLEECKER,  panting  and  frightened,  right 
upper,  carefully  closing  door  behind  him.  He 
is  badly  frightened,  as  is  evident  from  both 
•voice  and  manner.) 

PENDLETON.  What  the  deuce  is  all  this  commotion 
about,  Bleecker? 

BLEECKER.  (Going  behind  table)  It's  a  ghost, 
sir! 

(Ready  Door-bell  off  stage  lower  left.) 

PENDLETON.     Ghost? 

BLEECKER.  (Nervously)  It  was  the  gardener 
who  first  saw  her,  sir,  trying  to  scale  the  stone  \vall. 
And  when  he  ordered  her  out,  she  said  she  was  glad. 
for  then  she  would  be  all  the  gladder  when  she  did 
get  in ! 

PENDLETON.  Oh — she  did,  eh?  Impudent  bag- 
gage! 

BLEECKER.  Up  to  to-day,  it's  been  only  a  voice 
and  we  thought  it  was  only  a  resemblance,  but  just 
now  he  saw  her,  and  it  was — oh,  forgive  me,  sir! 
I  know  you  have  not  permitted  her  name  to  be 
spoken  in  twenty  years,  but 

PENDLETON.  (Angrily,  dropping  cards,  grasping 
arms  of  chair  and  half-rising  in  chair,  and  frowning 
and  shouting  at  the  man)  Twenty  years!  What 
has  that  to  do  with  it? 

BLEECKER.  (Goes  right  of  him,  realising  that 
PENDLETON  must  be  careful  of  his  injured  leg)  Oh, 
sir — do  be  careful  of  your  leg,  sir!  Remember, 

your  poor  father  died  from  just  such  an  injury 

(Goes  back  behind  table.) 

PENDLETON.  (Sitting  back)  Well,  then,  don't 
get  me  excited  with  your  ghost-yarns !  It's  only 
some  mischievous  village  imp,  playing  a  joke  on  me ! 
Close  up  the  hole  in  the  hedge — and  send  the  minx 
away.  I  shall  not  permit  even  a  "ghost"  to  enter 


POLLYANNA  43 

and  break  my  rule  of  twenty  years!  (Bell  off  left 
rings.) 

BLEECKER.     Very  good,  sir. 

PENDLETON.  There's  the  doctor  now.  Let  him 
in,  and  remember,  Bleecker,  no  more  ghosts!  Do 
you  hear,  no  more  ghosts!  (Sweeps  his  cards  up 
and  shuffles  them  snappily.) 

BLEECKER.  (Trembling  and  disappointed  that  this 
ghost-business  is  not  to  be  thoroughly  sifted)  Very 

good,  sir (Hesitatingly,  stepping  left,  but  as  if 

waiting  for  further  words  before  receiving  the  doc- 
tor.) But  the 

PENDLETON.  (Out  of  patience  with  the  man — 
fairly  shouts  at  him)  Get  out !  Go !  (Dashes  the 
whole  pack  of  cards  at  the  trembling  fellow.) 

BLEECKER.  I — I'm  going,  sir !  (Hurries  to  door 
lower  left.  Bell  rings  again  off  left.)  Oh — coming, 
Doctor,  coming,  Mr.  Tom — coming!  Coming! 
(Exits,  leaving  door  open  into  hall  lower  left.) 

(PENDLETON  mutters  to  himself.  With  groan,  as  if 
in  pain,  draws  hand  across  head.  Then,  hear- 
ing the  voice  of  his  friend,  the  doctor,  in  the 
hall,  pulls  himself  together.) 

CHILTON.  (Voice  off)  Bleecker (Enters, 

door  lower  left,  speaks  entering  room)  Have  my 
chauffeur  drive  down  for  Mrs.  Ford's  nurse,  will 
you — and  tell  him  to  come  back  within  an  hour. 

BLEECKER.  (Off  stage,  lower  left)  Certainly, 
sir. 

PENDLETON.  Nurse?  You're  not  bringing  me  a 
nurse,  I  hope? 

CHILTON.  Certainly  not,  old  crosspatch !  You've 
passed  that  stage.  This  nurse  is  for  old  Mrs.  Ford. 
Well,  and  how's  the  cripple  ?  (Going  behind  table.) 

PENDLETON.  Worse,  much  worse!  (Thinking 
BLEECKER  has  entered  room)  Bleecker?  (Turns 


44  POLLYANNA 

and  sees  no  BLEECKER,  then  angrily  calls,  pounding 
with  cane — once  rises)  Bleecker!  Confound  that 
man — never  about  when  I  want  him,  and  under  my 
feet  when  I  don't!  (Raises  voice)  I  say — Bleecker! 

(Enter  BLEECKER  hastily  lower  left.) 

BLEECKER.  Yes,  sir!  Here  I  am,  sir!  (Leaves 
door  open.) 

PENDLETON.  Where  the  devil  have  you  been — to 
the  North  Pole?  Close  that  door —  (BLEECKER 
closes  door.)  Two  whiskies  and  sodas  as  fast  as 
you  can  pour  'em! 

BLEECKER.  Yes,  sir !  Right  away,  sir !  (Goes  to 
cellarette  upper  left,  takes  out  seltzer  and  whiskey 
and  two  glasses,  pours  out  drink  for  CHILTON.) 

PENDLETON.  (To  CHILTON,  who  has  sauntered 
around  table  to  left)  Sit  down,  Tom.  Don't  fidget ! 
How's  the  weather  ?  Cold  as  Blitzen — indoors ! 
B — r — r !  (Shivers.) 

CHILTON.  And  as  hot  as  blazes — out!  If  you'd 
only  open  that  window  and  let  in  the  flood  of  sun- 
shine, outside,  you  wouldn't  need  a  wood  fire  in  Sep- 
tember !  But  oh,  oh !  Because  it  happens  to  wash 
the  house  on  the  other  side  of  the  hedge  before  it 
reaches  you,  you're  afraid  you'll  be  contaminated! 
(Throws  up  hands,  sits  left  in  front  of  table,  some- 
what diagonally  across  from  PENDLETON.J 

PENDLETON.  Now — now — now — we'll  leave  the 
house  on  the  other  side  of  the  hedge  out  of  it,  if 
you  don't  mind.  (BLEECKER  puts  tray  on  table.) 

Here's    the    panacea    for    all    ailments (Sits. 

Servant   places  glass  for   CHILTON — and  whiskey 
bottle  for  PENDLETON.) 

CHILTON.     Thanks — nothing  for  me ! 

PENDLETON.  (Pours  out  whiskey  —  BLEECKER 
holds  glass.)  Well — upon  my  soul,  what's  the  mat- 
ter with  you,  old  chap? 


POLLYANNA  45 

(BLEECKER  pours  seltzer,  places  glasses,  then  goes 
and  exits  lower  left.) 

CHILTON.  I  just  passed  somebody  as  I  came  in 
and  it  brought  back  old  memories — and 

PENDLETON.     Old  memories?     You  mean? 

CHILTON.  Polly  Harrington!  Met  her  face  to 
face,  and  she  looked  straight  through  me  as  if  I 
didn't  exist. 

PENDLETON.  Well,  is  that  anything  new?  She's 
looked  that  way  in  passing  you  for  many  years, 
hasn't  she?  You  should  be  used  to  it  by  this  time. 

CHILTON.  Yes,  but  by  Heaven,  I  can't  get  used 
to  it!  That's  the  trouble. 

PENDLETON.  (Interrupting)  Forget  her,  old 
man !  (Pause.  CHILTON  looks  at  him,  then  turns 
away,  sayin,  "No,  no,  no!")  Ah,  Tom,  what  damned 
old  fools  we've  been,  you  and  I — haven't  we — wast- 
ing our  lives  over  two  girls  who — who (Voice 

breaks.  Now  loud  and  angrily)  Damn  it!  Who 
didn't  care  whether  we  lived  or  died ! 

CHILTON.  (Arguing)  But  they  did  care — you 
know  they  cared.  Polly  loved  me  with  all  her  heart 
and  soul,  and  little  Charity  worshipped  you! 

PENDLETON.  (Interrupting)  Yes — and  proved 
it,  by  marrying  a  third-rate,  soul-saving  itinerant 
missionary.  (Bitterly  and  sarcastically)  Humph ! 
She  must  have  worshipped  me !  But,  let's  drop  the 
subject  and  go  back  to  where  we  left  off.  (Holds 
up  glass — Doctor  takes  seltzer.)  Here's  to  the  ill- 
health  of  the  village,  that  your  practice  may  be 
benefitted  and  your  exchequer  correspondingly  en- 
riched! May  the  inhabitants  fall  victim  to  an  epi- 
demic of  tedious  duration  and  slow  recovery — Go ! 
(Men  drink.) 

CHILTON.  Cheerful  toast!  (Rises.)  Well 

(Setting  down  glass,  leans  on  back  of  chair  L.  of 
table.)  It's  about  time  some  malady  broke  loose  in 


46  POLLYANNA 

the  hamlet,  for  a  rival  practitioner  has  come  to  town 
and,  like  the  piper  and  his  rats,  is  charming  all  my 
sick  folk  well! 

PENDLETON.  (Setting  glass  on  table)  What? 
Another  M.D.  ?  Heaven  help  the  inhabitants  !  Who 
is  he?  What  is  he?  And  just  how  dangerous  is 
he? 

CHILTON.    She  isn't  a  "he"— he's  a  "she"! 

PENDLETON.    A  she? 

CHILTON.  Yes,  and  a  child  at  that!  (Appears 
self-conscious  as  he  is  about  to  broach  a  very  par- 
ticular subject.) 

PENDLETON.    A  child! 

CHILTON.  Yes — everywhere  I  go,  I  find  she's  pre- 
ceded me,  teaching  my  patients  what  she  calls  "The 
Glad  Game,"  with  the  frightful  results  that  they're 
all  convalescing  until  I'm  in  danger  of  losing  my 
practice,  altogether! 

PENDLETON.     Heavens!    What  a  catastrophe! 

CHILTON.  (Affecting  annoyance)  When  I  tell 
you  that  old  Jerry  Blake  has  quit  his  coughing,  and 
Mrs.  Winters  her  groaning,  and  Betty  Ray  her  com- 
plaining— my  three  best  customers,  mind  you — 
(Laughs.)  You  can  imagine  the  havoc  she  has 
wrought!  (Crosses  to  bookcase  above  door  lower 
left.) 

PENDLETON.  Hypochondriacs,  all  three  of  them 
— you  know  well  enough  that  nothing  was  the  mat- 
ter with  any  of  'em.  That  it  was  all  their  imagi- 
nation ! 

CHILTON.  Yes,  but  man  alive,  the  "imagination" 
is  ten  times  harder  to  treat  than  the  body!  Didn't 
you  know  that?  And  she's  turned  the  trick  with  all 
of  'em,  the  little  minx !  (Goes  to  table  centre,  back 
of  table  during  speech.)  Old  Blackie,  the  cobbler, 
now  sings  at  his  work  when  formerly  every  peg  was 
a  pain.  Mary  Malone  hasn't  had  an  ache  in  her 
head  since  this  wizard  came  to  town.  (Puts  bottle 


POLLYANNA  47 

on  salver  on  table  centre.)  And  Mrs.  Snow 

(Moves  left  to  bookcase.) 

PENDLETON.  Now,  now,  now (Holding  up 

detaining  hand.)  Don't  try  me  too  far  with  this 
faith-healer!  You  know  well  enough  she  hasn't 
cured  Mrs.  Snow — a  woman  who  hasn't  walked  in 
twenty  years — never  will  walk  again! 

CHILTON.  (Takes  book  from  case  left)  No,  but 
she  might  have  done.  (Turns.)  If  some  good 
Samaritan  had  come  forward  years  ago  with  the 
money  to  send  her  abroad  to  a  famous  surgeon — I've 
always  contended  she  had  a  chance! 

PENDLETON.  Maybe!  But  this  child-wizard  is 
hardly  to  be  classed  with  a  "famous  surgeon,"  is 
she? 

CHILTON.    In  her  way — yes ! 

PENDLETON.  She  must  be  a  wonder !  Has  she  a 
license?  (Doctor  laughs.)  How  does  she  class  her- 
self ?  Among  the  Saints  or  the  M.D.'s  ? 

CHILTON.  M.W.'s — Miracle  Workers!  (Places 
book  back.  PENDLETON  laughs.) 

PENDLETON.  Humph !  Modest — isn't  she !  Well, 
all — I — ask — is — keep  her  out  of  my  sight,  please! 
If  there  is  anything  on  this  earth  I  loathe  more  than 

another,  it's  to  be  told (Then  saccharinely ) 

Things  might  be  worse!  (Doctor  laughs.)  Bah! 
These  idiots  who  go  around  with  an  everlasting  grin 
on  their  faces,  carolling  forth  that  they  are  thankful 
they  can  breathe  or  eat  or  drink  or  lie  down,  I  want 
to  shoot!  (CHILTON  laughs.  Savagely,  stamping 
cane,  then  concluding)  Oh — you  can't  fool  me! 
I'm  on  to  their  tricks !  It's  a  money-game,  pure  and 
simple!  What  does  she  charge? 

CHILTON.  (Comes  to  table  centre  at  back} 
Charge!  Good  Lord!  I  don't  suppose  this  baby 
ever  had  five  cents  to  spend  all  at  once  in  her  life — 
or  even  saw  a  whole  dollar  since  she  was  born. 
(Then  sweetly,  leaning  forward  toward  his  friend 


48  POLLYANNA 

and  speaking  in  an  entirely  different  tone)  Why, 
Jack,  old  boy,  she's  only  a  little  whiff  of  gladness — 
a  breath  of  the  past,  old  pal — innocence — youth — 

love •      (Pointedly    and   watching    PENDLETONJ 

"Hope" — Faith — Charity — all (  PENDLETON 

starts  curiously  at  those  three  words) — rolled  into 
one !  She's  an  inspiration !  A  joy !  (Goes  around 
table  to  left.) 

PENDLETON.  Ah!  Ah!  (Doctor  goes  around 
table  to  left  chair.) 

CHILTON.  And  now  that  she's  cured  all  the  hypo- 
chondriacs in  the  village  and  those  with  bodily  ills, 

she  has   started  on  the   cripples (Wickedly) 

So  I've  invited  her  up  to  see  you  !  (Sits  left  of  table 
centre.) 

PENDLETON.  The  devil  you  have!  Well — she'll 
have  to  unlock  three  padlocked  gates — climb  over  a 
six-foot  hedge — mow  down  a  bodyguard  of  able- 
bodied  men,  and  bowl  over  a  couple  of  bloodhounds 
to  get  into  the  presence  of  this  cripple.  (Rises  and 
goes  around  chair  up  to  cigar-box.) 

CHILTON.  Exactly !  That's  what  I  told  her,  but 
your  bodyguards  and  padlocks  and  bloodhounds 
only  delighted  her.  "I'm  glad  he's  so  hard  to  reach," 
she  chirped,  "for  I'll  be  all  the  gladder  when  I  do 
meet  Old  King  Grouch!"  (Chuckles.) 

PENDLETON.  (Explosively)  "Old  King  Grouch  !" 
(CHILTON  dodges  an  imaginary  fist.)  The  impudent 
little  minx !  That's  your  work,  Chilton.  I  see  your 
nefarious  hand  in  that!  You'll  be  compounding 
poison  in  my  medicine  next!  (Hands  him  a  cigar, 
bringing  them  down  back  to  table  centre.)  You  don't 
deserve  it,  but — have  a  cigar! 

CHILTON.  (Taking  the  cigar — laughing)  Well — 
yes,  maybe  I'm  not  altogether  guiltless!  But  when 
she  asked  me  the  name  of  the  King  who  lived  in 
this  castle (Waves  hand  indicating  this  par- 
ticular castle — lighting  cigar,  puffing)  I — told  her — 


POLLYANNA  49 

(Tosses  match  to  receiver.)     "Old  King  Grouch," 
who  hadn't  smiled  in  twenty  years! 

PENDLETON.  Oh,  you  did?  Well,  now,  that's 
what  I  call  a  nice,  kind  reference  to  your  best  friend. 
(Pointing  finger  at  CHILTON  J  You  bring  her  here 
on  pain  of  death!  Do  you  hear?  (Slams  lid  of 
cigar-box.  Disgustedly  going  right,  to  back  of 
chair.)  Humph !  What  does  she  think  I  am,  any- 
way? An  infant  in  arms?  An  imbecile?  Classing 
me  with  headachy  Mary,  is  she?  And  coughing 
Sam  ?  I'll  put  on  a  double  squad  of  bodyguards  to- 
night ! 

CHILTON.  (Still  back,  laughing)  Oh,  very  well, 
but  mind!  If  she  does  worm  her  way  into  your 
Royal  Presence,  don't — blame — me.  (Flicks  ashes 
from  cigar,  smiles  and  nods  head  knowingly.) 

(Ready  KNOCKS.) 

PENDLETON.  (At  right  end  of  table,  wondering 
what  he  can  be  driving  at.  Leans  forzvard  and 
peers  into  his  friend's  face)  I  say — what  the  deuce 
are  you  trying  to  do ;  what's  your  game  ?  Why  are 
you  so  anxious  that  this  village  pest  should  enter 
the  quietude  of  my  domain  and  upset  my  life  gen- 
erally? (CHILTON  laughs.  Violently)  And,  mind, 

if  you  do — bring  her  here (Shakes  warning 

finger  at  him.) 

CHILTON.  Never  fear !  I'll  not  bring  her !  She'll 
bring  herself!  (PENDLETON  takes  cigar.)  She's 
afraid  of  nobody!  nothing!  And  needs  no  assist- 
ance to  reach  anybody,  anything/,  anywhere!  (Seri- 
ously, leaning  again  toward  PENDLETON )  I — tell 
you,  Jack,  she's  got  me  "going."  And  when  a  soured 
old  bachelor  like  Tom  Chilton  is  lost,  there's  not 
much  hope  for  even  you! 

PENDETLON.  (Lighting  a  cigar)  Oh,  I  think  I 
could  withstand  her  blandishments !  There  never 
was  a  woman  yet  I  couldn't  resist 

CHILTON.     (Interpolating)    Not  one?    (Stares  at 


So  POLLYANNA 

PENDLETON.     Pauses.      Watches  PENDLETON   nar- 
rowly.) 

PENDLETON.  (Sadly,  after  a  pause)  Yes — one! 
But  only  one !  (Putting  cigar  on  receiver.  Sits  right 
of  table.) 

CHILTON.    And  this  one's  like  her — 

PENDLETON.  Like  her?  (Peers  at  CHILTON.J 
What  do  you  mean?  I  say,  old  man,  who  is  the 
weird  creature  whom  you  are  so  bent  on  bringing 
here? 

CHILTON.    You  really  wish  to  know? 

PENDLETON.    Yes.    You've  roused  my  curiosity. 

CHILTON.     Well,  then — she's  Charity's  daughter! 

PENDLETON.  Charity's  daughter!  (Knocking  is 
heard  in  cabinet  left.) 

(KNOCK.) 

CHILTON.  (Turning  ear  in  direction  of  knock) 
What's  that? 

PENDLETON.  (Glancing  back  at  door  lower  left) 
Come  in!  (Then,  resuming)  Charity's  daughter! 

CHILTON.  Yes — and  what  is  more — the  living, 
breathing  image  of  Charity!  (Knock.) 

PENDLETON.  (Half-rising  and  shouting  at  door 
lower  left,  pounding  with  cane)  Come  in!  I  tell 
you!  Bleecker!  Bleecker! 

CHILTON.  That's  not  Bleecker !  (Knock.)  That's 
the  tunnel! 

PENDLETON.  (Also  staring  at  cabinet  left)  The 
tunnel ?  (BLEECKER  enters  lower  left.)  Nonsense! 
The  tunnel  hasn't  been  opened  since 

CHILTON.     (To  PENDLETONJ     Nevertheless — 
(Crosses  to  cabinet  and  calls  gently)     Pollyanna! 
Here  I  am!    Doctor  Chilton! 

( POLLYANNA  simply,  slowly  opens  cabinet  door.  She 
smiles  brightly.  CHILTON  steps  forward  and 
assists  her  out  of  cabinet.  CHILTON  closes  door. 
This  door  should  open  up  stage.) 


POLLYANNA  51 

PENDLETON.  (Leaping  to  his  feet  and  staring  at 
the  child)  Charity's  daughter!  (Crosses  right.) 

CHILTON.  (Finger  on  lips — she  must  not  give  it 
away  that  he  has  aided  her  to  come.  Indicating  PEN- 
DLETON, whom  she  has  not  yet  seen)  His  Majesty! 
The  King!  (Doctor  goes  to  lower  left — motions 
BLEECKER  to  follow  him.  They  exit  lower  left.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Curtseying  low)  How-do-you-do, 
Your  Majesty  ?  (The  voice  delights  him.  He  smiles. 
Makes  a  deep  curtsey.  PENDLETON  rubs  his  hand 
across  his  eyes  and  seems  to  "come  to"  with  half  a 
smile  on  his  face.  Rapturously)  You  smiled  !  You 
smiled !  I'm  so  glad  I  came !  (In  ecstasy  of  de- 
light, she  goes  to  him.  Light  as  thistle-down,  laugh- 
ing in  a  childish  manner.) 

PENDLETON.     (Stares  at  her)    Stop! 

(Immediately  she  stops  short  on  one  foot,  quite  like 
an  ostrich,  trying  to  keep  her  balance,  and  try- 
ing to  bow,  at  the  same  time.) 

POLLYANNA.       Oh — please     forgive     me,     King 

Grouch (Bows  and  draws  feet  up  again.) 

PENDLETON.     (Testily)     Don't  call  me  that 

(She  continues  to  curtsey,  drawing  one  foot  up  in 
characteristic  manner  constantly.) 

PENDLETON.  And  stop  that  bowing  and  scraping. 
I'm  not  a  King,  and  I'm  not  a  Grouch,  and  I  want 
you  to  quit  standing  on  one  foot  like  an  ostrich. 
(Her  foot  shoots  down  to  earth,  and  she  flits  and 
whirls  to  door  lower  left.)  And  not  flit  about  like 

a  will-o'-the-wisp (She  comes  centre,  throws 

bonnet  on  chair,  also  bunch  of  flowers  left  of  table 
centre.)  But  humanize  into  a  child,  and  let  me  look 
at  you !  (Comes  forward  and  peers  at  her.) 

POLLYANNA.     How's  this?     (Stiffens  her  legs — 


52  POLLYANNA 

clasps  her  hands  stiffly  down  at  her  sides  as  if  she 
were  being  photographed.) 

PENDLETON.  (Eager  to  trace  each  and  every  re- 
semblance to  his  beloved)  Now,  your  side  face — 
(POLLYANNA  turns  about  as  if  made  of  ^vood,  and 
permits  him  to  gaze  at  her  profile.)  Now  the  other 
side (POLLYANNA  again  turns  woodenly.) 

POLLYANNA.  (No  reply — he  doesn't  even  hear 
her)  Maybe  a  back  view  would  be  nice!  (Turns 
back,  gives  side-face.)  Then  the  freckles  won't 
show.  (Turns  the  side.)  I  hate  freckles!  Still, 
I'm  glad  they're  not  warts !  Dimples  are  nice.  Deep 
ones  like  this.  (Fingers  face.)  Do  you  know  what 
makes  dimples?  It's  where  the  angels  kissed  you 
before  you  were  born.  (PENDLETON  brushes  hand 
across  eyes  as  if  pained,  and  turns  away.)  Please 
forgive  me,  sir!  Have  I  pained  you?  (Curtsey.) 

PENDLETON.  It's  nothing — I — I'm  not  well.  You 
see — I — I've  broken  my  leg (Sits  on  settee.) 

POLLYANNA.     Oh,  how  lovely 

PENDLETON.     Lovely? 

POLLYANNA.  Why,  yes.  It  gives  you  something 
so  easy  to  be  glad  about !  (Smilingly)  Aren't  you 
glad  it  isn't  your  neck? 

PENDLETON.    My  neck — good  heavens ! 

POLLYANNA.  Why,  yes — for  then  you'd  be  dead 
instead  of  just  "shrivelled  up"!  Then  you  wouldn't 
be  alive  to  be  glad. 

PENDLETON.  Humph !  If  you'd  been  through  the 
sorrow  I've  been  through,  you'd  know  there  was 
nothing  in  life  to  be  glad  about.  (He  speaks  mourn- 
fully, and  rubs  his  leg  as  if  in  pain.)  Only  things 
to  make  me  miserable. 

POLLYANNA.  (Thinking  him  a  "grunter")  Well 
— since  you  seem  to  love  being  miserable  so  well ! 
You  can  be  glad  you've  got  so  many  things  to  make 
you  miserable. 

PENDLETON".     (Testily)     Who  said  I  loved  being 


POLLYANNA  53 

miserable?  I'm  miserable  because  my  life's  been 
wrecked.  I'd  have  you  know! 

POLLYANNA.  (Thinking  him  fussy)  But  "broken 
leggers"  aren't  wrecks,  sir!  I'd  rather  be  a  broken 
legger  like  you  than  sleepy  leggers  like  Mrs.  Snow ! 
Broken  leggers  will  get  well,  but  sleepy  leggers  never 
wake  up! 

PENDLETON.  (Snappily)  I  wasn't  referring  to 
my  leg,  if  you  please,  Miss  Jump-at-Conclusions! 
Sit  down ! 

POLLYANNA.  (Right  of  table,  slipping  into  seat, 
and  as  she  does  so  her  eyes  sweep  the  room)  My! 
What  a  perfectly  elegant  castle !  You  must  be  rich 
— even  more  richer  than  the  kind  that  just  have  car- 
pets in  every  room  and  ice-cream  on  Sunday.  Of 

course,  I  haven't  been  in  all  your  rooms  yet 

(Bashfully  hoping  it)  Nor  eaten  ice  cream  here, 
either — yet!  (Laughs  self-consciously.)  Oh,  dear! 
Children  are  so  quaint,  aren't  they?  I  mind  when  / 
was  a  child  I  thought  being  rich  meant  when  you  had 
diamond  rings  and  hired-girls  and  sealskin  sacques 
and  silk  skirts  that  swish — swished  when  you  walked, 
and  an  automobile.  Have  you  all  those,  Mr. — I 
mean,  sire? 

PENDLETON.  (Dazedly,  as  if  he  hardly  heard  this 
running  fire)  Why,  yes — I — I — suppose  I  have. 

POLLYANNA.  Then  you  are  rich.  That  settles  it. 
(Gets  on  knees  on  chair.)  My  Aunt  Polly  has  them, 
too,  only  her  automobile  is  a  horse.  She  says  she 
would  like  to  have  a  car  if  she  could  have  the  only 
one  in  the  world,  so  there  wouldn't  be  any  to  run 
into  her.  But,  of  course,  it  wouldn't  be  fair  to  ask 
anybody  to  give  up  theirs  just  to  please  Aunt  Polly, 
would  it?  (PENDLETON  motions  her  to  sit  on  chair 
opposite.)  Dr.  Chilton  has  an  automobile — a  new 
one.  And  so  have  all  the  other  five  doctors  in  town 
new  ones!  (Shakes  head  over  prospective  smash- 


54  POLLYANNA 

ups.)  Well,  anyway,  it's  a  good  thing  time  heals  all 
wounds,  isn't  it? 

(Ready  LIGHTS.) 

PENDLETON.  (Not  referring  to  the  automobiles, 
but  to  his  own  heart-injury,  speaks  sadly)  Yes — 
only  "time"  doesn't  heal  "all  wounds" — not  all! 

POLLYANNA.  (Rises,  goes  to  him,  alarmed  at  his 
seriousness  and  sad  tones)  Why,  your  Majesty! 
You — you  look  ill !  Have  I  hurt  you  ? 

PENDLETQN.  No — it's — it's  an  old  hurt!  One 
that  time  hasn't  healed!  (Presses  hand  to  head  and 
rubs  it  across  his  eyes  as  if  a  mist  or  a  tear  blinded 
him.)  Come  closer,  little  one — there's  a  mist  before 
my  eyes,  I — I — I  can't  see  you! 

(Bunch  and  Spotlights  on  off  left  upper.) 

POLLYANNA.  No  wonder,  sir — it's  so  dark  in  here. 
Wait — I  will  open  the  window  and  let  in  the  golden 
sunshine.  There!  (Skips  to  window  left  centre 
and  throws  it  open,  letting  in  a  flood  of  light.) 

(First  border  and  footlights  up,  also  spotlight  in 
fireplace.  Amber  spotlight  from  door  lower  left 
which  has  been  left  open.) 

POLLYANNA.     Is  it  not  beautiful — and  look 

(Looks  up  at  sky  at  window  left  centre)  A  rain- 
bow! Do  you  know  what  a  rainbow  means?  It  is 
God's  promise  to  his  beloved  that  we  shall  have  what- 
ever we  want.  My  father  told  me,  and  we  can  al- 
ways have  a  rainbow  of  our  own  if  we'll  only  take 
the  trouble  to  hold  up  our  prism  to  the  sunshine. 
That's  what's  the  matter  with  the  world,  he  used  to 
say — folks  only  see  their  own  shadows  in  the  sun- 
light, while  if  they  held  up  their  hands — happiness 
and  hope — laughter  and  peace — contentment  and  joy 
— untold  would  be  theirs!  That's  what  it  means 
when  they  say  "happiness"  is  within!  For  it  is! 
Because  you  keep  the  shutters  closed  doesn't  mean 


POLLYANNA  55 

that  the  sun  isn't  shining!  And  because  ycu  don't 
hold  the  prism  up  doesn't  mean  that  the  doors  aren't 
there!  See.  (Getting  candlestick  and  placing  the 
candle  in  the  window  on  pedestal.)  I  shall  set  your 
prism  in  the  window,  so  that  you  will  not  have  the 
heart  to  close  the  shutters  and  forget  God's  Promise. 
There — your  Majesty !  (Curtseys  low.) 

PENDLETON.  (Not  curtly,  yet  unsmilingly)  I'm 
not  "your  Majesty" — I'm  only  a  man! 

POLLYANNA.  Please  don't  be  only  a  man,  sir! 
(Coming  toward  him  down  right  from  zvindow.) 
Make  believe  you're  a  King,  for  then  I  can  make 
believe  you  are  my  king — the  king  that  I  pray  for 
every  night,  the  King  my  mother  told  me  of — the 
King  of  her  fairy  tales. 

PENDLETON.  (Dreamily,  leaning  forward)  The 
story — your  mother  told  you  of 

POLLYANNA.  Yes!  Would  you  like  to  hear  it? 
It's  a  beautiful  story  about  a  princess — and  a  King 
— and  love!  Shall  I  tell  it  to  you? 

PENDLETON.  (Softly  nodding  head  and  looks 
away  from  her)  If — if  you  wish! 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  I'm  so  glad  I  came  over. 
(Jumps  and  sits  on  settee.  PENDLETON  starts.) 
And  I'm  so  glad  we  are  to  be  friends — and  so  glad 
I  like  you — why — we're  beginning  to  play  the  game 
already,  aren't  we? 

PENDLETON.  Never  mind  about  the  "game"  !  The 
fairy-tale!  The  fairy-tale!  (Places  hassock.  She 
flops  at  his  feet  on  hassock  facing  audience.) 

POLLYANNA.  Well (Swallows  hard — and 

starts  off  impressively)  Once — upon — a — time 

PENDLETON.  (Putting  out  a  detaining  hand) 
Wait!  Is  this  a  true  story? 

POLLYANNA.  Well,  it's  mostly  true,  sire — at  least, 
that's  always  what  my  mother  said  when  I  asked 
her.  Well,  anyway,  once  upon  a  time  there  was  a 
princess  who  loved  a  king  and  he  loved  her !  (Fac- 


56  POLLYANNA 

ing  audience  through  tale  except  at  the  explaining 
of  words.)  Their  castles  were  not  far  apart — only 
a  stone  wall  and  prickly  hedge  between.  You — 

you Like  Aunt  Polly's  house  and  your  castle. 

Well,  anyway !  The  Princess'  father  didn't  approve 
of  the  King-  as  a  suitor  for  his  daughter's  hand. 
("Suitor"  means  when  you  want  to  marry  a  girl,  you 
know.)  And  when  the  King  came  a-wooing,  he 
shut  the  door  in  the  poor  King's  face — and — that 
his  daughter  might  not  see  the  King  when  she  went 
abroad —  ("Abroad"  means  "about,"  in  fairy- 
tales— you  know,  about  anywhere — to  church,  or  the 
post-office,  or  the  grocery  store — or  anywhere.) 

PENDLETON.  (Quoting  her)  Yes,  yes,  go  on! 
When  the  Princess  went  about 

POLLYANNA.  No,  when  the  Princess  went  abroad, 
a  witch  went  with  her — to  guard  her  and  make  sure 
the  beautiful  King  might  not  approach.  (Do  you 
know  what  "approach"  means  ?)  (Looks  up  at  him.) 
It  means  to  "come  near"  .  .  . 

PENDLETON.    Yes,  I  know !     Go  on ! 

POLLYANNA.  Well — one  day  he  passed  by  his 
loved  one's  side,  up  close  and  thrust  a  note  in  her 
hand  in  which  he  begged  her  to  dope  and  *'/  willing, 
to  give  him  a  secret  signal 

PENDLETON.  Two  candles  in  the  window  instead 
of  one 

POLLYANNA.  (Disappointedly)  Why,  your  Ma- 
jesty— do  you  know  this  story,  too? 

PENDLETON.  I — I  have  heard  it  somewhere,  I 
think,  but — er — go — on  !  He  begged  her  to  run 
away 

POLLYANNA.  Yes,  and  the  Princess  loved  the  King 
so  much  that  she  was  willing  to  run,  so  she  placed 
the  candles  in  the  window  and  the  next  time  the  King 
passed  up  close,  he  thrust  another  note  in  her  hand, 
saying  he  had  had  a  secret  passage  dug  from  his 
castle  to  hers,  and  for  her  to  signal  the  first  good 


POLLYANNA  57 

opportunity  to  escape !  So  she  waited  and  waited, 
and  one  night,  a  great  fire  broke  out  in  the  village — 

PENDLETON.     The  post-office  burned  down. 

POLLYANNA.  (Very  disappointedly)  Why,  it  is 
the  same  story,  after  all ! 

PENDLETON.  Yes — it — it  is — the  same  story — 
after  all!  And  then? 

POLLYANNA.  Well — and  then — just  as  the  Prin- 
cess was  ready  to  be  whisked  off  to  happiness,  they 
were  discovered,  and  she  was  snatched  from  her 
dear  King's  arms  just  as  they  were  disappearing  in 
the  tunnel. 

(PENDLETON  groans,  and,  for  a  brief  second,  puts 
his  hands  over  his  eyes,  as  if  trying  to  put  out 
of  his  sight  ei'en  the  mental  picture  of  his  ex- 
perience that  night.  POLLYANNA  hears  groans 
and  looks  up  as  he  places  hand  over  his  eyes.) 

POLLYANNA.  It  is  a  sad  story,  isn't  it,  your 
Majesty  ?  (Sweetly)  Why — there  are  tears  in  your 
eyes!  That  was  just  where  my  angel-mother  used 
to  weep  when  she  told  me  the  story ! 

PENDLETON.  (Quickly,  almost  savagely)  You 
mean  that  ?  She  wept? 

POLLYANNA.  Always!  Sometimes  she  could 
hardly  go  on,  it  hurt  her  so. 

PENDLETON.  Go  on !  After  that,  what  happened? 
That's  what  I've  always  wanted  to  know — what  hap- 
pened to  the  princess  afterward?  My  story  ended 
there — when  she  was  torn  from  her  King! 

POLLYANNA.  Well — after  that  the  cruel  father 
sent  the  heartbroken  princess  far  away  where  she 
could  never  see  her  beautiful  King  any  more — then 
her  father  died,  leaving  her  a  message  that  she  had 
killed  him  by  her  conduct,  and  that  she  must  expi- 
ate her  crime — "Expiate"  means  "wash  away,"  "re- 


58  POLLYANNA 

deem" — she  must  expiate  her  crime  by  going  into 
the  church  and  bringing  souls  to  Christ ! 

PENDLETON.    And  she  obeyed! 

POLLYANNA.  Yes,  though  she  never  ceased  to 
love  her  beautiful  King 

(Amber  spotlight  form  lower  left  door  gradually 
dies  off.) 

PENDLETON.  (Savagely)  You  mean  that?  You're 
sure? 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  indeed,  I  am,  for  she  prayed 
for  him  every  night  of  her  life. 

PENDLETON.  (Aghast)  Prayed  for  him  ?  After- 
ward? Even  after  she'd  married  another  man? 

POLLYANNA.  (Aghast)  Why,  your  Majesty! 
Did  the  Princess  in  your  story  marry  another  man, 
too? 

PENDLETON.  (Nervously)  Yes,  yes,  tell  me.  Did 
she?  Did  she  pray  for  her  King? 

POLLYANNA.  Every  night  and  morning  and 
through  the  day — and  when  her  little  child  was  born, 
it  had  blue  eyes — did  your  princess's  little  baby  have 
blue  eyes,  too? 

PENDLETON.  My  Princess  had  no  little  baby.  She 
died  and  the  King  died  the  night  after  the  cruel 
father  tore  them  apart. 

POLLYANNA.  (Quickly,  happily)  Oh — mine 
didn't!  So  it  couldn't  have  been  the  same  story, 
after  all.  Well,  years  and  years  afterward,  my 
Princess's  little  baby  came  into  the  world  with  blue 
eyes,  and  nobody  knew  where  they  could  have  come 
from,  for  there  were  no  blue  eyes  on  either  side  of 
the  family !  But  the  Princess  knew !  And  she  called 
them  "memory-eyes,"  for  they  were  the  eyes  of  her 
beautiful  King — whom  she  had  never  ceased  to  love. 
The  end. 


POLLYANNA  59 

PENDLETON.  (Eagerly,  nervously,  smilingly) 
Really? 

POLLYANNA.  Yes — and  my  eyes  are  blue  too, 
and  my  mother  always  called  them  "memory-eyes," 
after  the  little  baby  in  the  fairy  tale.  Look !  (Puts 
her  hand  to  her  eyes  and  leans  up  to  him  that  he 
may  see  her  eyes.) 

PENDLETON.  (Placing  his  hands  on  either  side  of 
her  eager  little  face,  and  peeping  into  her  eyes)  Let 
me  see!  (Happily)  They  are!  They  are  blue — 
like  mine!  Oh,  you're  sure  the  Princess  never  for- 
got her  King? 

POLLYANNA.  "Not  till  her  dying  day,"  my  mother 
told  me.  Nor  did  my  mother  forget  him,  either,  even 
though  he  was  only  a  King  in  a  fairy  tale.  Why, 
the  last  thing  she  said  tojne  before  she  died  was — 
to  pray  for  him.  And  I  do,  every  night,  and  ask 
God  to  make  him  glad!  (The  last  words  are  spoken 
rapturously.) 

PENDLETON.  (Sweetly,  with  note  of  ecstasy  in 
•voice)  And  he  has  heard  your  prayer,  at  last.  For 
now  he's  glad — glad  that  the  bitterness,  caused  by 
what  he  believed  the  fickleness  of  his  princess,  has 
been  washed  away !  He's  glad  that  his  darling  loved 
him  to  the  end,  when  he  had  suffered,  thinking  she 
had  ceased  to  care.  But  he  knows  now,  little  mem- 
ory eyes — my  little  memory  eyes! 

POLLYANNA.  (Drawing  back,  timidly — Rises) 
Why — I  don't  understand,  your  Majesty.  I  am  not 
the  real  Memory-Eyes ! 

PENDLETON.  Oh,  yes,  you  are (Softly.) 

More  than  you  know  or  dream.  (Points  to  wall 
centre  of  back  fiat.)  Go  to  the  wall  there,  if  you 
will — little  one (Rises.) 

POLLYANNA.  Yes,  dear  King.  (Goes  up  left  cen- 
tre.) 

PENDLETON.  (Goes  up  right  centre — still  pointing) 
And  place  your  hand  on  that  cord. 


6o  POLLYANNA 

POLLYANNA.     (Pointing  to  the  cord)     This  one, 
sire? 
PENDLETON.     Yes — pull  slowly. 

(She  pulls  cord  and  curtains  part,  revealing  an  oil 
portrait  of  a  beautiful  girl  of  perhaps  eighteen 
or  twenty,  whose  face  is  the  exact  replica  of 
POLLYANNA'S.  Curtains  remain  apart  to  end  of 
act.  In  case  it  is  impossible  to  get  a  satisfac- 
tory picture  of  POLLYANNA'S  mother,  a  picture 
may  be  placed  on  an  easel  at  such  an  angle  that 
it  will  not  be  plainly  seen  by  the  audience  when 
POLLYANNA  removes  the  curtain.  For  a  mo- 
ment POLLYANNA  stands,  mute  with  astonish- 
ment, then,  when  the  wonderment  of  the  miracle 
has  passed,  she  recognises  her  own  beautiful 
mother.) 

POLLYANNA.  Mother!  Mother!  My  own  dar- 
ling mother !  (Holds  out  appealing  arms  to  the  pic- 
ture as  she  cries  out  in  sorrow  and  loneliness  of  her 
starved  little  heart.)  Come  back  to  me — nobody 
loves  me — nobody  wants  me — I  try  to  be  glad,  but 
oh,  mother  dear,  I  want  to  be  zvanted — I  want  to  be 

loved Please  .  .  .  come  .  .  .  back!     Please! 

(Sinks  on  cushion  on  couch — sobs.) 

(PENDLETON  forgets  his  lameness,  strides,  limping, 
toward  the  sobbing  little  girl.  He  lifts  her  with 
fatherly  gentleness  and  holds  the  motherless, 
heart-hungry,  loveless,  brave,  little,  "unwanted" 
creature  close  to  his  own  lonely  heart — and  a 
wave  of  sympathy  surges  over  him  as  he  real- 
ises the  pathos  of  the  situation.  His  heart,  that 
had  steeled  itself  against  all  sentiment  and  ten- 
derness for  twenty  years,  now  gives  its  pent-up 
store  to  a  child  he  has  known  less  than  a  quar- 
ter of  an  hour.) 


POLLYANNA  61 

PENDLETON.  (Crosses  to  her — takes  her  to  couch. 
Sits  with  his  arms  about  her  and  peering  down  into 
the  tear-stained  face.)  Now,  do  you  understand, 
little  girl  ?  The  fairy  tale  you  have  told  me  is  a  true 
story.  I  am  that  "king"  and  your  beautiful  mother 
was  the  "princess"  I  loved;  and  you,  you,  dear 
heart,  are  little  Memory  Eyes,  who  have  prayed  for 
my  happiness  all  these  years !  (Holds  her  head 
against  his  heart.)  My  little  Memory  Eyes — Mine! 
Mine ! 

POLLYANNA,  (Astounded)  Then — then  you're 
glad? 

PENDLETON.  (Going  right  to  chair)  Glad?  I'm 
the  gladdest  man  in  all — the — world!  And  I  didn't 
think  it  possible  in  my  loneliness !  (Sits  at  table.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Going  left  of  him)  Loneliness! 
Then  you're  lonely,  too? 

PENDLETON.  Desperately!  Hungrily!  I  have 
needed  a  woman's  hand  and  a  child's  presence  all 
these  years ! 

POLLYANNA.  (Repeating  his  words  to  herself) 
A  woman's  hand (Gazes  down  at  her  own  out- 
spread little  hand  and  realizes  that  it  is  too  small  to 
answer.)  A  child's  presence (Her  eyes  bright- 
en— goes  left  a  little.)  Why — I  am  a  child !  Would 
I  do?  (Then  realizing  how  splendid  it  would  be  to 
stay  somewhere  where  she  would  be  "wanted,"  runs 
to  him.)  Oh,  beautiful  King,  beautiful  King,  let  me 
be  your  "child's  presence" !  Please  let  me  stay ! 

PENDLETON.  (Tenderly)  You  would  like  to  stay 
in  my  castle  and  be  my  little  girl  ? 

POLLYANNA.  (Excitedly)  Oh,  I  would,  I  would ! 
I  would  be  glad!  And  you  would  be  glad!  And 
everybody  would  be  glad — most  of  all,  Aunt  Polly! 

PENDLETON.  No — I'm  afraid  she  would  never 
permit  it. 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  but  she  would !  She  doesn't 
want  me,  she  told  me  so. 


62  POLLYANNA 

PENDLETON.  (Appalled  at  the  cruelty)  Told  you 
sof  Told  you  she  didn't  want  you? 

POLLYANNA.  Yes — it  was  best  that  we  under- 
stand each  other,  she  said,  but  some  way  she  doesn't 
need  a  child's  presence,  so  she  will  be  glad  to  have 
you  have  me.  (Kneels.)  Oh,  beautiful  King!  it's 
terrible  hard  to  feel  glad  when  you're  not  wanted — 
you  can  do  it — but — it's  hard! 

PENDLETON.  (Caressing  her)  Oh,  you  poor, 
motherless  thing — with  your  beautiful  face  and  love- 
ly soul — think  of  anybody  not  wanting  you! 

POLLYANNA.     (Eagerly)    Then  you  do  want  me? 

PENDLETON.  Want  you?  Oh,  if  you  only  knew 
how  much ! 

POLLYANNA.    You  mean  it?    Really?    Really? 

PENDLETON.  (With  feeling)  From  the  bottom 
of  my  lonely  heart — from  the  very  depths  of  my 
soul !  Oh,  as  sure  as  there  is  a  God  in  Heaven.  He 
has  sent  you  to  me — to  piece  out  the  rest  of  my 
wasted  life!  You  -will  stay!  (Rises  with  her.) 
Promise !  Promise ! 

POLLYANNA.  (Rises — eagerly)  Oh,  I  will,  I 
will !  Not  only  do  I  want  to,  but,  even  if  I  didn't, 
it  would  be  my  duty !  Oh,  I'm  so  glad  it  was  a  true 

story (Puts  arms  around  his  neck.) — a^d  that 

you  are  my  beautiful  King — and  that  I'm  coming  to 
live  with  you.  No,  wait — I'll  go  and  tell  Aunt  Polly 
and  fetch  my  things. 

PENDLETON.  But  I'm  afraid  you  won't  come 
back. 

POLLYANNA.    Oh,  yes,  I  will! 

PENDLETON.    You  promise? 

POLLYANNA.  (Going  to  door  lower  left)  I  prom- 
ise. 

PENDLETON.  (Following  eagerly,  arms  out)  But 
what  if  your  Aunt  won't  let  you? 

POLLYANNA.  (Not  too  fast)  Oh,  but  she  will. 
She  doesn't  like  dogs  or  cats  or  children.  So  she'll 


POLLYANNA  63 

be  glad!    So,  wait!    Beautiful  King,  you  just  wait ! 
(Exits  door  lower  left.) 

PENDLETON.  (Joyfully  striding  about)  I'll  wait 
— I'll  wait — gladly,  happily,  joyfully !  (Sees  bonnet 
on  chair  left  of  table — picks  it  up.  Sees  Doctor. 
Hides  bonnet  in  pocket,  then  under  chair.) 

(Enter  DR.  CHILTON  lower  left.) 

CHILTON.     Well?    Did  she  play  her  "game"? 

PENDLETON.    Yes — she  played — and  won ! 

CHILTON.  (Laughingly)  Played  and  won,  eh? 
Then  I'm  to  take  from  that,  am  I,  that  Pollyanna, 
M.W.,  has  robbed  me,  M.D.,  of  another  high-priced 
patient ! 

PENDLETON.  Yes — she  has  indeed  robbed  you  of 
your  patient,  and,  what  is  more,  she  effected  a  per- 
manent cure — a  cure  beyond  mere  medical  skill,  for 
my  ailment  was  a  sickness  of  the  soul.  (Goes  right.) 
No  wonder  the  town  has  gone  wild  about  her.  And 
she's  a  miracle  worker.  Why  didn't  you  tell  me 
that  before?  See!  Has  she  made  a  different  man 
of  me?  In  twenty  seconds  she  upset  the  traditions 
of  twenty  years !  Look  at  me !  Would  you  have 
known  me? 

CHILTON.     No ! 

PENDLETON.    Am  I  not  a  different  man  ? 

CHILTON.    You  are!     (Sits  left  of  table  centre.) 

PENDLETON.  Think  of  it,  Tom,  she  loved  me! 
Charity  loved  me — to  the  end.  My  God !  If  I  had 
only  known — if — I'd — only — known!  (Covers  face 
with  hands,  transition.)  And  now  she  comes.  Her 
little  girl — my  little  girl!  Oh,  Tom,  I  must  have 
her !  I  must !  I  must ! 

CHILTON.  (Astounded  at  this — rises)  You — 
want — Pollyanna  ? 

PENDLETON.     Want  her?     How  can  you  ask  it 


64  POLLYANNA 

with  her  mother's  face  and  golden  voice?     I  will 
adopt  her — make  her  my  heiress. 

CHILTON.  (Shakes  head  solemnly)  It's  an  im- 
possible thing  to  hope.  (Rises.)  Impossible!  Im- 
possible !  (Turns  left.) 

PENDLETON.  No!  It's  not  impossible!  Why,  it 
means  life  to  me,  Tom — old  man !  That  child  about 
my  house — that  little  face — Charity's  own  little  face 
— looking  up  into  mine,  will  make  a  man  of  me! 
And  with  the  help  of  God — I'll  amount  to  some- 
thing! (Almost  pleadingly.)  Help  me,  old  chap! 
Help  me  fight  for  her !  I  can  count  on  you  ? 

CHILTON.  You're  crazy!  Do  you  think  for  a 
moment  that  Polly  Harrington  would  give  up  her 
own  flesh  and  blood,  least  of  all  to  a  man  whom  she 
has  not  spoken  to  for  twenty  years  ? 

PENDLETON.  But  she  doesn't  want  her.  The  child 
told  me  so  herself !  Think  of  the  cruelty  of  that — 
telling  the  lonely  little  heart  she  wasn't  wanted! 
The  grouch !  But  I  want  her — and  I'm  going  to 

have  her  if  I  have  to  kidnap  her 

CHILTON.  Be  sensible!  You  will  never  be  able 
to  get  her  away  from  her  aunt.  Why,  I  doubt  if 
she  will  even  permit  her  to  come  to  see  you,  once 
she  is  aware  of  this  visit. 

PENDLETON.  Oh,  yes,  she  will!  I'll  see  to  that, 
and  she'll  be  here  to-day! 

CHILTON.  With  her  aunt  after  her  like  a  hungry 
wolf!  By  Jove!  Here's  where  I  beat  a  hasty  re- 
treat! Good  day.  (Offers  hand.) 

(Warn  CURTAIN.) 

PENDLETON.  (Catching  his  hand)  Coward!  You 
would  leave  me,  a  poor  cripple,  alone  and  unde- 
fended, to  face  the  enemy?  Not  on  your  life! 
You'll  stick! 

CHILTON.     No!     I  aided  and  abetted  you  in  one 
escapade.     This  time  I  steer  clear!    (Goes  left.) 
PENDLETON.     But  you  have  nothing  to  lose  and 


POLLYANNA  65 

everything  to  gain  by  remaining,  haven't  you?  She 
hasn't  spoken  to  you  for  twenty  years — now's  your 
chance  to  make  her  speak.  Why,  you  don't  know 
what  might  happen! 

CHILTON.  That's  what  you  said  the  first  time  I 
stuck  by  you. 

PENDLETON.  You  may  never  have  another  chance 
to  make  her  speak  to  you  this  side  of  the  grave. 

CHILTON.  You  are  a  cheerful  talker — just  a  natu- 
ral born  optimist. 

PENDLETON.  (Impressively)  Suppose  she  did 
speak  to  you.  Aren't  you  game  to  take  a  chance? 

CHILTON.  You  got  the  right  word !  It's  a  chance 
and  a  fine  chance.  But  I'll  take  it — if  it  kills  me ! 
I'll  stick!  (Goes  to  him.) 

PENDLETON.    Brave  boy!     (Shakes  his  hand.) 

(Enter  POLLYANNA  door  lower  left  with  suitcase, 
hat,  two  bundles  and  a  flower  basket.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Men  stare  at  her,  astonished — 
brightly)  Well,  I've  moved! 


QUICK  CURTAIN 


ist   PICTURE — POLLYANNA   has   dropped   things. 
PENDLETON  has  arms  around  her. 

2nd  PICTURE — POLLYANNA  centre.  PENDLETON  ai 
left.     CHILTON  right. 


ACT   III 

PLACE  ;    Same  as  Act  II.    Fire  log  cut. 
TIME:    An  hour  later.     Lights  full  up. 

DISCOVERED:  At  rise  of  curtain  POLL  VAN  N  A  and 
PENDLETON  and  CHILTON  are  discovered  eating 
ice  cream  together  at  large  table  centre.  The 
chair  in  which  PENDLETON  sat  in  Act  II,  at  right 
of  table,  has  been  drawn  back  of  table  centre. 
PENDLETON  sits  right  of  table,  and  POLLYANNA 
centre,  both  laughing  and  chatting  and  having  a 
merry  time.  PENDLETON  zvears  a  crown  made 
of  gilt  paper,  and  POLLYANNA  wears  a  gay  red 
sash  tied  diagonally  across  her  breast  in  royal 
fashion  and  a  "lace  curtain"  for  a  "court  train." 
CHILTON,  too,  sitting  at  left  of  table,  wears  a 
royal  blue  sash  and  a  gilt  circlet,  and  is  enjoy- 
ing himself  hugely. 

Before  and  at  rise  of  curtain  the  three  arc 
heard  to  laugh  merrily. 

POLLYANNA.    Well?    And  then,  your  Majesty? 

PENDLETON.    And  then?    Well,  and  then 

CHILTON.  (Taking  up  the  tale)  And  then — they 
got  married  and  lived  happily  ever  after.  That's 
the  end  of  all  fables,  isn't  it? 

PENDLETON.  Fables!  You  choose  your  words 
with  such  nicety,  Friend  Thomas!  How  come  you 

66 


POLLYANNA  67 

to  know  so  well  the  moods  of  the  marriage-state  and 
you  so  limited  in  experience? 

CHILTON.  Who  knows?  By  intuition,  perhaps! 
Or  divination,  maybe !  Or  perchance  I  have  been 
a  jolly  benedict  in  some  previous  existence ! 

POLLYANNA.  Some  preznous  existence?  Why — 
maybe  that's  where  I  have  seen  your  face  before, 
Dr.  Chilton.  In  some  previous  existence! 

CHILTON.     Very  likely 

PENDLETON.    Yes,  or  the  Rogues'  Gallery! 

CHILTON.     Or  the  Hall  of  Fame ! 

POLLYANNA.  (Dreamily,  as  if  trying  to  recall 
time  and  place)  N — o,  I've  never  been  to  either  of 
those  places!  (CHILTON  and  PENDLETON  laugh.) 
It — must  have  been  in  some  previous  existence ! 

CHILTON.  (Gaily)  Do  you  hear.  Victorious 
Rival !  You  have  cut  me  out  in  this  world  with  "Her 
Little  Highness,"  but  don't  forget  she  and  I  were 
friends  in  another  world  you  didn't  even  inhabit! 

PENDLETON.  It's  not  true,  is  it,  Pollvanna?  I've 
been  in  all  your  world,  haven't  I,  dear? 

POLLYANNA.  No,  I  never  saw  you,  Beautiful 
King,  before  to-day!  But  Dr.  Chilton — why,  the 
first  time  I  met  him,  at  Mrs.  Snow's,  I  knew  I  had 
seen  his  face  before.  It — it  bothered  me. 

PENDLETON.  Ha!  I  don't  wonder!  That  face 
would  bother  most  anybody ! 

CHILTON.  Isn't  that  a  nice  way  to  speak  to  your 
physician  after  saving  your  life? 

PENDLETON.  You  saved  my  life?  Don't  flatter 
yourself!  It  was  a  little  child  that  threw  me  the 
life-line,  God  bless  her!  (Leans  over  and  caresses 
her  hand.) 

(Enter  BLEECKER  lower  left  hastily.) 

BLEECKER.  Beg  pardon,  sir,  but  there's  a  very 
persistent  female  at  the  door  who  insists  she  has 


68  POLLYANNA 

business  with  the  "King."  I  think  she's  crazy,  sir. 
I've  ordered  her  off,  but  she 

POLLYANNA.     Oh,  it's  Nancy! 

PENDLETON.    Nancy!    Nancy  who? 

POLLYANNA.  Nancy  nobody — she's  bringing  the 
rest  of  my  things.  (Crosses  to  left.)  Please  let  her 
in,  Mr.  Bleecker.  She's  my  most  intimate  freind. 

(CHILTON  rises  and  goes  up  centre  to  PENDLETON, 
who  rises.  Both  up  right  of  table.  Enter 
NANCY,  pushing  past  the  disgusted  BLEECKER, 
turning  and  scowling  at  him  as  she  comes  in, 
muttering  her  indignation  over  his  trying  to 
keep  her  out.) 

NANCY.  (Entering  with  basket  and  scowling  at 
the  servant  as  she  speaks)  Shure  Oi'll  come  in,  Oi 
will !  Oi  will !  It  would  take  more  than  the  loikes 
of  a  British  blighter  to  kape  me  out!  Shame  on 
you!  Oi'll  tell  the  King  on  ye,  Oi  will,  and  ye'fl 
lose  your  job!  (Draws  hand  back  as  if  to  strike 
him. ) 

(PENDLETON  places  chair  right  and  sits  at  table.) 
POLLYANNA.     Oh,  Nancy !  Nancy ! 

(NANCY  turns  about,  and  sees  the  royal-appearing 
trio  for  the  first  time,  and  backs  away  with  awe. 
POLLYANNA  brings  NANCY  forward,  indicating 
the  "crowned"  king,  in  his  royal-appearing 
dressing  gown.) 

POLLYANNA.    This  is  his  Majesty,  the  King! 
CHILTON.    The  King!     (Salaams.) 
PENDLETON.     (Seated  in  chair  right)     How  do 
you  do? 

NANCY.     (Quite  flabbergasted,  salaams  awkward- 


POLLYANNA  69 

ly)  Och,  an'  it's  just  the  same  as  bein'  praysinted 
at  Court,  isn't  it,  Pollyanna?  (Obsesves  the  serv- 
ant. PENDLETON  rises,  puts  back  chair,  goes  to 
CHILTON.J  Well,  and  what  are  ye  after  waitin'  for, 
ye're  not  one  o'  the  Royal  Family.  Out  wid  ye ! 
(Raises  hand  threateningly,  then  turns  to  PENDLE- 
TON. BLEECKER  exits  lower  left.  Door  closes  se- 
curely.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Trying  to  calm  her  down)  Nancy, 
you  brought  my  things? 

NANCY.  Shure,  darlin'  lassie,  pride  o'  me  heart! 
(Gives  basket.  POLLYANNA  puts  it  back  of  chair 
left  of  table.)  Fresh  ironed,  your  little  things,  an' 
as  pure  an'  white  as  your  angel  heart  is  white  and 
pure!  Mr.  King? 

CHILTON.  (Crosses  to  back  of  chair  back  of  table, 
pulls  it  out)  The  lady  desires  an  audience 

(PENDLETON   approaches   the   throne-chair,   with   a 
wave  of  his  cane.     NANCY  draws  back.) 

PENDLETON.  Approach  the  throne !  (Sits.  CHIL- 
TON moves  a  little  to  window  left  centre.) 

NANCY.  (Then  to  PENDLETON — a  few  steps  to 
chair  left  of  table)  Oh,  Mr.  King,  be  koind  to  the 
lammie.  Niver  give  her  a  cross  wurrud  or  an  angry 
look !  Just  love  and  smiles !  If  ye  do  sir,  may  the 
saints  love  ye  an'  bless  ye,  an'  if  ye  don't — may  the 
Divil  get  ye !  (Then  cuddling  POLLYANNA.  )  She's 
an  angel,  sir,  shure  as  loife  an'  death,  an'  she's  cured 
me  of  me  cuss-words — it  shure  will  be  loike  a  funeral 
in  that  awful  house!  Good-bye,  darlin',  queen — of 
me — soul ! 

(PENDLETON  knocks  on  table  with  stick.     NANCY 
salaams.    NANCY  crosses  to  left.) 

NANCY.    Oi  must  run  home  now,  an'  see  the  hap- 


Jo  POLLYANNA 

piness  of  Miss  Polly  when  she  knows  ye're  gone! 
Good-bye,  PoUyanna !  (Weeps.  PENDLETON  knocks. 
Wiping  away  her  tears.)  Oi  wape — (Weeps) — for 
mesilf,  tho'  oi'm  glad  for  you — —  (Weeps  aloud.) 

CHILTON.  (Do^vn  to  PENDLETON  on  his  left,  be- 
hind table)  Good  Lord,  Jack !  Here  comes  Polly 
Harrington!  What  did  I  tell  you!  (Looking  off 
through  window.) 

NANCY.  Miss  Polly!  Let  me  out — let  me  out! 
Let  me  out !  (Rushes  to  door  right  upper,  followed 
by  POLLYANNA.  PENDLETON  rises  and  places  chair 
by  table.  To  POLLYANNA)  Don't  tell  her  Oi  helped 
yez,  or  I'll  be  fired !  (Exits  swiftly  right  upper,  mut- 
tering, "Oh"  etc.) 

(POLLYANNA  hides  behind  chair  right  of  table.  En- 
ter BLEECKER  lower  left.) 

BLEECKER.     Miss  Polly  Harrington 

PENDLETON.     Show  her  in ! 

(All  are  breathless  with  suspense.  Enter  Miss 
POLLY  excitedly,  dressed  for  the  street.  Her 
cheeks  are  flaming  with  anger,  and  she  loses  no 
time  in  speaking  her  mind.  PENDLETON  stands 
at  right  centre.  CHILTON  goes  behind  armchair 
centre  and  hides.  This  is  done  as  NANCY  exits. 
POLLY  does  not  see  POLLYANNA  on  her  en- 
trance.) 

PENDLETON.    How  do  you  do,  Miss  Harrington — 

Miss  POLLY.  (Left  centre)  Where  is  my  niece, 
Mr.  Pendleton?  I  have  just  been  informed — 

POLLYANNA.  (Brightly,  comes  to  Miss  POLLY,) 
Here  I  am,  Aunt  Polly! 

PENDLETON.  Will  you  be  seated?  (CHILTON 
places  chair  for  her  politely.) 

Miss  POLLY.     (Inclining  her  head  coldly  toward 


POLLYANNA  71 

CHILTON  left.  He  places  chair  by  bookcase  down 
stage  left.)  No,  I  thank  you !  Pollyanna,  what  does 
this  mean  ?  How  comes  it  that  I  cannot  leave  home 
even  to  attend  to  Ladies'  Aid  without  finding  you 
up  to  some  mad  escapade  during  my  absence  ?  Come 
home  at  once! 

POLLYANNA.  (Centre)  But  I  am  home,  Aunt 
Polly.  I've  moved  here ! 

Miss  POLLY.  (Aghast)  Moved  here?  Are  you 
mad?  (Suddenly  noticing  the  weird  costuming  of 
men.)  Are  you  all  mad  ?  Am  I  in  a  lunatic  asylum 
or  home  for  the  feeble-minded? 

(Instantly  the  two  men  sheepishly  relieve  themselves 
of  their  silly  crown  and  sash  and  drop  them  be- 
hind them,  trying  not  to  be  "caught  in  the  act." . 
PENDLETON  puts  cane  and  crown  up  stage  right. 
Comes  down  right.  CHILTON  puts  sash  and  cir- 
clet on  bookcase  up  stage  left.  CHILTON  cotnes 
down  left.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Sorry  to  see  the  crown  and  sash 
disappear)  But  you  don't  understand,  Aunt  Polly. 
You're  in  a  castle — and  here  is  his  Majesty,  the  King 
— and  Dr.  Chilton — is  a  Fairy  Prince,  and  I'm  a 
Princess!  And  I  live  here! 

Miss  POLLY.  Don't  be  silly,  You  do  nothing  of 
the  kind.  Come  home. 

POLLYANNA.  But  it's  true.  Ask  the  Prince! 
(Points  to  DR.  CHILTON,  who  goes  up  stage,  dis- 
gusted with  himself.)  He'll  tell  you!  (Crosses  to 
him  right.  Then  indicating  PENDLETON  and  going 
to  him  and  leaning  against  him  innocently.)  He 
wants  me — the  beautiful  King!  And  he  needs  a 
woman's  hand  and  a  child's  presence !  And  you 
don't  want  me,  so  it'll  be  perfectly  splendid  all 
'round ! 

Miss    POLLY.      (Humiliated   and    angry    at    her 


72  POLLYANNA 

words)  What  are  you  talking  about?  Stop  this 

argument  and  come  with  me (Steps  forivard 

and,  taking  child's  hand,  endeavors  to  lead  her  away 
from  PENDLETON.  ,)  I'm  sorry  if  she's  annoyed  you, 
Mr.  Pendleton — 

PENDLETON.  (She  is  in  his  arms)  On  the  con- 
trary— she  has  given  me  great  joy!  And  it's  tny 
fault,  Miss  Harrington,  about  her  remaining  here. 
I  asked  her  to  come !  I  want  her !  You  know  why 
— because  she's  Charity's  little  girl  and  so  like  her ! 
Please  let  me  keep  her !  Let  me  adopt  her !  I  will— 
(He  is  about  to  say  make  her  his  heiress,  etc.,  but 
is  interrupted.) 

Miss  POLLY.  (Aghast)  Adopt  her?  Adopt  my 
niece?  My  own  flesh  and  blood?  Good  Heavens ! 
(Frigidly  drawing  the  unwilling  child  away  from 
him.)  Certainly  not,  Mr.  Pendleton !  Come,  Polly- 
anna! 

PENDLETON.  But  she's  like  a  flower — a  sensitive 
plant — and  needs  warmth  and  love  if  she's  to  thrive 
— and  you  don't  want  her — she  told  me,  herself 

Miss  POLLY.  (Infuriated)  She  told  you  that  I — 
didn't  want  her?  (Astonished — drawing  POLLY- 
ANNA'S  hand  roughly  and  peering  into  the  child's 
face.)  Pollyanna,  what  do  you  mean  by  telling  such 
an  untruth? 

(PENDLETON  sits  right  of  table.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Astonished,  because  Miss  POLLY 
had  told  her  that  the  first  day;  that  she  hadn't  wanted 
her,  but  had  merely  taken  her  into  her  home,  out  of 
duty.)  Untruth!  Then — then  you've  changed? 
And  you  do  want  me?  (Eagerly')  You  mean  it? 
Really? 

Miss  POLLY.  Certainly  I  want  you — what  a 
question ! 

POLLYANNA.     (To  her  aunt  and  hugging  her  with 


POLLYANNA  73 

all  her  might  in  her  ecstasy)     Oh,  Aunt  Polly !    I'm 
so  glad!    So  glad!    At  last  you  want  me! 

(This  violence  causes  Miss  POLLY'S  locket  to  become 
detached — it  drops  to  the  floor.  Miss  POLLY 
throws  open  the  door  left.  CHILTON  around  to 
back  of  table.) 

Miss  POLLY.  Come,  Pollyanna!  (Crosses  to 
left.) 

POLLYANNA.  Aunt  Polly,  your  locket!  (POLLY- 
ANNA  stoops  and  picks  tip  the  opened  locket — as  it 
lies  open  in  her  hand,  she  smiles  over  at  CHILTON. ) 
Dr.  Chilton,  that's  where  I  seen  your  face  before. 
(Holds  it  out  to  him.  He  takes  it  just  as  the  gasping 
Miss  POLLY  is  alive  to  the  situation.  The  next  three 
speeches  are  spoken  almost  simultaneously.) 

CHILTON.     What's  that?    (Gets  locket.) 

Miss  POLLY.    Pollyanna! 

CHILTON.  (Crosses  to  Miss  POLLY,  taking  locket) 
You  mean  it? 

Miss  POLLY.    It's  not  true !    Give  it  to  me ! 

(  POLLY  ANN  A  crosses  to  back  of  table.) 

CHILTON.  (Holding  it  tight)  But  I  have  a  right 
to  see  if 

Miss  POLLY.  (Holding  out  hand  toward  him  and 
demanding  it)  There  are  no  ifs — a  child's  imagina- 
tion can  find  resemblances  anywhere — everywhere! 

CHILTON.  (Keeping  ~the  locket  from  her)  But 
if  it's  only  a  child's  imagination,  why  do  you  refuse 
to  let  me  see  it  ? 

Miss  POLLY.  Because  I  am  not  accustomed  to 
having  my  word  doubted  or  my  assertions  put  to  a 
proof.  I  insist  upon  your  giving  it  to  me. 

CHILTON.    Just  one  look  is  all  I  ask ! 


74  POLLYANNA 

Miss  POLLY.     No! 

CHILTON.  Then  it  must  be  my  picture  or  you 
would  not  object. 

Miss  POLLY.     Don't  flatter  yourself! 

CHILTON.  Flatter  myself?  You  speak  mildly. 
Why,  if  I  thought  you  had  worn  my  picture  next 
your  heart  for  twenty  years 

Miss  POLLY.  Please !  !  !  You  have  no  right,  and 
I  am  in  no  mood  to  listen.  Be  good  enough  to  re- 
turn my  locket,  Dr.  Chilton. 

CHILTON.  (Then  in  coaxing  tone)  Just — one — 
look? 

Miss  POLLY.     (Angrily)    No!  !  ! 

CHILTON.  (Opens  hand  and  permits  her  to  take 
locket)  I'm  sorry 

Miss  POLLY.  (Coyly)  I  thank  you.  Come,  Pol- 
lyanna !  (Turns  left  toward  door.) 

POLLYANNA.  (CHILTON  up  to  window — rushes 
to  PENDLETON  and  throws  arms  around  his  neck) 
Good-bye,  my  beautiful  King 

PENDLETON.  (Rises)  You  will  come  again,  and 
often  ? 

POLLYANNA.  Every  day  and  many  times  a  day! 
(Kisses  him.  Then  crosses  to  POLLY.J 

Miss  POLLY.  (Coldly  at  door  lower  left)  You 
must  make  no  rash  promises,  child.  If  you  knew 
everything  you  would  not  wish  to  come!  And  as 
for  you,  Mr.  Pendleton,  I  think  you  have  caused 
enough  misery  in  the  Harrington  household  with- 
out asking  further  recognition.  .  .  . 

PENDLETON.  (Going  forward  to  centre)  No,  I 
caused  no  misery  intentionally.  What  I  did  I  did 
for  the  greatest  thing  in  the  world — love. 

Miss  POLLY.  We  will  not  discuss  it.  Twenty 
years  is  too  long  a  time  to  review  in  as  many  min- 
utes— I  have  no  more  time  to  waste !  Come,  Polly- 
anna.  (POLLYANNA  crosses  to  her.)  Good  after- 


POLLYANNA  75 

noon,  gentlemen.     (Bows  coldly.     CHILTON  bows. 
Exit  Miss  POLLY.J 

(Spotlight  from   door  lower   left.) 

POLLYANNA.  (At  door,  curtseying)  Good-bye, 
your  Majesty.  (Kisses  hand  after  her  to  both  men.) 
I'll  be  back!  I'll  be  back!  (Exits  smiling  lower 
left.  CHILTON  waves  hand.) 

CHILTON.  (Peering  off  left  through  window  after 
POLLYJ  Think  of  it,  old  man !  She's  worn  my  pic- 
ture twenty  years  over  her  heart ! 

PENDLETON.  (Goes  right)  Bah!  She  has  no 
heart ! 

CHILTON.  Oh,  why  didn't  I  know  it  before?  I 
never  suspected,  I  never  dreamed 

PENDLETON.  Get  out  of  my  rainbow,  idiot! 
(Goes  up  right.) 

CHILTON.  Ruffian!  !  !  (Goes  to  cellarette  left 
upper  and  pours  drink.) 

PENDLETON.  You  dare  cast  a  shadow  on  my  hap- 
piness, contentment  and  joy !  God !  I  wonder  if 
that  woman  could  be  mean  enough,  contemptible 
enough — to  keep  that  child  from  me  ?  (To  fire,  goes 
right.) 

CHILTON.  Stop!  (Crosses  to  back  of  table  with 
drink  on  salver.  Drink  in  hand,  assuming  dramatic 
manner,  good  naturedly)  Do  you  realize  you  are 
speaking  of  the  loveliest  woman  in  all  New  Eng- 
land? (Holds  up  glass.)  Here's  to  the  jet  locket 
— long  may  it  hang!  (Drinks.  Places  glass  on 
salver  on  table  centre.) 

PENDLETON.  Good  Lord,  Tom — have  you  com- 
pletely lost  your  head? 

CHILTON.  My  head,  my  feet — my  heart — my 
soul! 

(Enter  NANCY  quickly  door  right  upper.) 
NANCY.    'St !    Has  she  went,  you  know !    (Comes 


76  POLLYANNA 

down  right  centre.  Men  whirl  about  instantly,  as- 
tonished at  her  presence.  Points  in  a  jabbing  way) 
Her!  !  ! 

CHILTON.  (Behind  table)  You  mean  an  angel 
with  wings?  (Pantomimes  flying.) 

NANCY.     Oi  do  not! 

(CHILTON  loses  smile,  drops  "wings") 

PENDLETON.  You  mean  a  devil — (Indicates  horns) 
— with  horns f 

NANCY.     That's  her! 

PENDLETON.  Yes — she's — (Then  quoting  NANCY j 
—"went"! 

NANCY.  The  saints  are  with  me !  The  saints  are 
with  me !  (Crosses  in  front  of  table,  going  to  door 
lower  left  to  exit.) 

CHILTON.     (Gaily)    Yes,  and  the  saints  are  with 

me — and  Heaven  is  for  me Let — the  whole — 

big — beautiful — zvorld — rejoice !     (Waves  arms.) 

NANCY.  (Stopping  short  and  staring  at  CHIL- 
TON) What  ails  this  man?  Is  he  looney? 

CHILTON.  You're  right!  Looney  with  happi- 
ness !  Wild  with  ecstasy !  Crazy  with  love ! 

NANCY.  Love,  is  it?  (Crosses  to  door.)  Oi 
think  I'll  be  goin'!  (Exits  lower  left.) 

PENDLETON.  Ah  ha !  Now  you've  done  it !  She'll 
tell  the  whole  town  what  an  ass  you  are! 

CHILTON.  (Crazily)  Let  her !  Let  her !  I  say ! 
I  want  the  town  to  know  it.  (Crescendo.)  Polly 
wears  my  picture  right  over  her  heart  .  .  .  in  a 
locket  .  .  .  right  over  her  heart!  (Dances  left. 
Sings  the  last  "heart"  crescendo.  Goes  down  left 
corner.) 

PENDLETON.  (Clapping  hands  to  ears)  Oh, 
Lord-! 


POLLYANNA  77 

(Enter   POLLYANNA   through   window,   left   centre, 
with  a  basket.) 

POLLYANNA.     I'm  back! 

PENDLETON.  (Starts  toward  her,  right  centre) 
You're  back?  To  stay?  She's  given  in? 

POLLYANNA.  No,  beautiful  King  .  .  .  she  hasn't 
given  in,  but  I  didn't  want  you  to  be  lonesome,  so — 
(She  goes  behind  table) — I  brought  you  company. 
(Carries  a  basket  with  two  hinged  lids,  one  on  either 
side.) 

PENDLETON.    Company? 

POLLYANNA.  (CHILTON  sits  on  table,  and  draws 
salver  out  of  her  way.  POLLYANNA  sitting  on  table) 
Yes.  .  .  .  (Taking  something  from  one  side  of  the 
basket.)  To  you  from  me  with  love.  .  .  .  (Havfds 
over  the  kitten  of  Act  I,  now  wearing  a  gay  red  rib- 
bon on  her  neck,  and  not  so  starved  looking.) 

Sodom!  and (Lifts  her  beribboned  puppy  from 

other  side,  ribbons  on  neck) — Gomorrah!  !  ! 

PENDLETON.    (Turning  away)    Help ! 

POLLYANNA.     Why  .  .  .  didn't  you  like  them? 

PENDLETON.    (Going  to  table)    Like  them?    Why, 
yes  .  .  .  yes!     Of  course!     I  should  say  I  do  like 
'em  .  .  .  the  little  beasts !  !  !     (Places  one  on  each 
shoulder.     Smiles.     His  beatific  smile  as  he  gases 
down  at  the  infants  in  his  arms  is  equal  to  a  "yes." ) 
POLLYANNA.    Then  why  didn't  you  say  so? 
PENDLETON.    Say  so?    Be — because  I  was  dumb- 
founded with  joy! 

POLLYANNA.     (Rapturously)     At  last  they  have 
a  father  to  love  them! 

(PENDLETON  looks  over  at  CHILTON,  who  grins  and 
winks  at  him.) 

CHILTON.     (Points  at  him)     Father! 
POLLYANNA.    (Suppressed  laughter)    And  they'll 


78  POLLYANNA 

not  have  to  be  hidden  away  in  a  dark  cellar?  Any 
more?  (Then  to  PENDLETON)  That's  how  I  dis- 
covered the  secret  passage (Points  to  door) 

— hiding  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  out  of  Aunt  Polly's 
sight ! 

PENDLETON.  (Loving  the  animals  now  that  he 
learns  they  were  hidden)  Think  of  it — Tom,  I  was 
led  into  Paradise  through  Sodom  and  Gomorrah. 
(CHILTON  goes  left.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Getting  off  table.  Happy  that 
PENDLETON  and  the  animals  are  all  benefited.  Then 
to  PENDLETON,  looking  at  him)  Now,  beautiful 
King — you  must  prepare  for  an  even  greater  hap- 
piness ! 

PENDLETON.  What!  Greater  than  Sodom  and 
Gomorrah  ?  Impossible ! 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  yes,  it  is  possible !  (Up  left  to 
window  through  which  she  entered — beckons,  and 
JIMMY  BEAN  enters  triumphantly  through  window, 
beaming  and  important.)  Look ! 

PENDLETON.  Great  Scott !  And  who  is  this  claim- 
ant to  the  throne,  may  I  ask? 

POLLYANNA.  This  is  Jimmie  Bean.  Prince  Jim- 
mie,  after  you  adopt  him ! 

PENDLETON.  (Right  of  table)  Adopt  him? 
(Crosses  to  basket  on  table,  the  animals  slip  and  he 
almost  drops  them.  Places  them  in  basket.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Down  at  his  knees)  Yes — instead 
of  me !  Please  adopt  him,  your  Majesty — he's  so 
tired  of  being  an  orphan,  aren't  you,  Jimmy? 

JIMMY.  (Right  of  POLLYANNA)  Huh — or- 
phants  ain't  no  fun,  orphants  ain't! 

POLLYANNA.  (Rises)  No,  indeed!  We  know, 
don't  we,  Jimmy?  Jimmy  wanted  a  pair  of  parents, 
if  possible,  but  one  will  do — won't  it,  Jimmy? 

JIMMY.  (Gazing  about  at  ceiling,  furniture,  etc.) 
Yes.  I'd  rather  have  a  mother,  of  course. 

POLLYANNA.    (Shutting  him  up)    Oh,  of  course! 


POLLYANNA  79 

Anybody  would  rather  have  a  mother !  But  when  it 
comes  to  parents,  we've  got  to  take  what  we  can  get 
in  this  world!  (Smoothing  JIMMY'S  hair,  motherly 
fashion.) 

PENDLETON.  (Sitting  on  right  of  table)  I  see. 
So  you're  looking  for  a  parent.  Is  that  right? 

JIMMY.  (Quickly)  Yes,  but  I'm  no  beggar,  sir. 
(Steps  forth  defiantly.)  I  can  work,  I  can — feel  my 
muscle!  (Offers  arm  for  examination.) 

PENDLETON.  I  think  my  medical  adviser  would 
probably  be  the  proper  person  to  investigate  your, 
muscular  development,  Master  James!  Here,  Doc- 
tor! 

(  JIM  MY  turns  arm  and  DR.  CHILTON  feels  his  bi- 
ceps.) 

CHILTON.    Wonderful ! 

JIMMY.  (Excitedly)  And  I — got  brains — feel 
my  head!  (POLLY  sits  on  table.) 

CHILTON.  (Feeling  the  boy's  head)  Wonderful 
to  relate! 

JIMMY.  (Excitedly)  And  I  don't  eat  much — 
feel  my  stomach !  (Offers  hungry  organ  for  ex- 
amination.) 

CHILTON.    (Examining  same)    Empty  as  a  drum. 

JIMMY.  (To  PENDLETON,  crosses  to  him)  Didn't 
I  tell  you?  Oh,  sir,  please  take  me?  All  I  want  is 
not  to  be  frowned  at  all  the  time  ...  to  be  smiled 

at  like  she  smiles  at  me Smile,  Pollyanna 

(Points  to  POLLYANNA,  whose  ready  smile  greets 

him.)     Like  that (Points  to   her  excitedly.) 

See!     As  if  she  meant  it! 

POLLYANNA.  (Hugging  the  boy)  Oh,  I  do«mean 
it,  Jimmy,  dear!  I  do!  I  do!  (Crosses  to  PEN- 
DLETON) You  will  adopt  him,  won't  you?  You  will 
be  such  a  happy  family  .  .  .  you  and  Jimmy  and 
Sodom  and  Gomorrah!  (PENDLETON  crosses  to 


80  POLLYANNA 

right.)     Besides,  he'll  be  so  lonesome  when  I  go 
away  to  school 

JIMMY.      You're   going   away?     Oh,   Pollyanna! 

Then — then (Turns  pleadingly  towards  her.) 

I  can't  never  be  glad! 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  yes,  you  can,  Jimmy  dear.  You 
have  everything  to  be  glad  for.  Be  glad  that  we 
love  each  other  and  that  we  are  going  to  be  married 
when  we  grow  up.  Be  glad  you're  going  to  live  in 
a  castle — and  have  my  King  for  a  father 

JIMMY.  (Mournfully)  Yes,  but  he  hasn't  said 
he'd  take  me  yet ! 

POLLYANNA.  But  he's  going  to — aren't  you,  beau- 
tiful King? 

PENDLETON.  Oh,  well,  as  you  and  Jimmy  are 
going  to  be  married — I  promise  to  look  into  the  mat- 
ter, at  any  rate.  As  a  trustee  of  the  Orphanage,  I 
am  at  liberty  to  have  Jimmy  remain  with  me  till  I 
find  out  exactly  whether  or  not  he  and  I  may  be 
congenial — eh,  Jimmy?  How's  that,  my  little  Sa- 
maritan ? 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  that's  splendid!  And  I'm  so 
glad  for  Jimmy's  sake — and  your  sake — and — and — 
(  JIM  MY  crosses  to  left  of  table — Glances  over  at 
the  neglected  doctor,  goes  to  him  left)  Oh,  Dr. 
Chilton — I've  never  done  anything  to  make  you 
glad,  have  I? 

CHILTON.  Why,  my  dear,  you  have  made  me  the 
gladdest  man  on  earth!  I  can't  explain — but  ask 
your  Aunt  Polly — maybe  she  will  tell  you! 

POLLYANNA.  (Astounded)  Aunt  Polly?  Oh,  I 
understand ! 

NANCY.  (Enters,  excited,  window  left  centre) 
'St!  !  ! 

POLLYANNA.  (Everybody  turns  and  star&s  at  the 
girl)  Why,  Nancy! 

NANCY.    (Comes  right  of  POLLYANNAJ    She  sent 


POLLYANNA  81 

me  for  you,  she  did !    Ye're  goin'  away,  ye  are — to 
school  to-night! 

PENDLETON,  POLLYANNA,  JIMMY.     To-night!  !  ! 

NANCY.  (Up  to  window,  peers  to  left)  Be  quick 
with  your  farewellin',  darlin'.  Miss  Polly's  on  the 
portico  now.  (Exits  window  left.) 

POLLYANNA.  (JIMMY  turns  face  up  stage — crys) 
Oh — then  I  must  hurry — good-bye,  Dr.  Chilton — 
(Shakes  hands  with  him.)  What  shall  I  bring  you 
for  a  gift?  When  I  come  back? 

(Get  ready  to  lower  ALL  LIGHTS.) 

CHILTON.  A  message  of  love — from  a  beautiful 
lady.  (POLLYANNA  looks  quizzically  at  him.)  Good- 
bye !  (Kisses  her  hand.) 

POLLYANNA.  I  don't  know  any  beautiful  ladies 
except  my  aunt,  but  I — shall  try.  Good-bye !  (CHIL- 
TON crosses  up  right  of  window  left  centre.  Goes 
to  JIMMY,)  Now,  Jimmy,  be  a  man  and  don't  cry! 

JIMMY.     Who's  crying? 

POLLYANNA.  What  shall  I  bring  you  for  a  gift, 
Jimmy  dear?  When  I  come  back? 

JIMMY.  (Clinging  to  her)  Bring  me  just  you, 
Pollyanna — just — you!  Don't  you  forget  your 
promise ! 

POLLYANNA.  And  don't  you  forget  yours,  you 
dear!  Good-bye!  (Kisses  him.  Goes  to  PENDLE- 
TON  right.)  Good-bye,  beautiful  King!  And  what 
shall  I  bring  you? 

(LIGHTS  down.) 

PENDLETON.      (Right)      Bring   me (Gazes 

deep  into  her  eyes.)  A  little  face  that  I  worship — 
a  little  voice  that  I  adore — and  two  blue  eyes  that 
are  a  proof  of  a  woman's  love!  (Very  tenderly.) 
Good-bye,  little  Memory-Eyes !  (Kisses  her  and 
lets  her  go  reluctantly.  POLLYANNA  crosses  toward 
window.) 

(Left  Bunch  and  spot  amber  spotlight  from  fire  on.) 


82  POLLYANNA 

POLLYANNA.      Good-bye (Steps   backward 

somewhat  toward  window.)  My  beautiful  King! 
(She  is  bathed  in  a  sudden  burst  of  sunlight.  Slowly 
and  rapturously)  Why,  look !  The  clouds  are 
breaking !  The  sun  shines  in  upon  you !  (Reaches 
spot  near  window.)  Like  the  benediction  at  the  end 
of  the  service — wishing  you  joy!  Peace!  Happi- 
ness! Gladness!  Love!  Good-bye!  (Remains  in 
the  light,  waving.  The  men  return  the  wave,  laugh- 
ing.) 

(CHILTON  crosses  up  left  of  JIMMY.,) 

PENDLETON,  CHILTON  and  JIMMY.  Good-bye! 
Good-bye !  Pollyanna !  (All  wave  as  she  waves  to 
them,  and  exits  through  window  left  centre.) 

(Spot  Amber  off.) 

(At  this  juncture  poor  little  JIMMY  bursts  into 
tears,  tears  he  has  striven  manfully  to  restrain 
until  POLLYANNA  goes;  but  he  is  unable  to  be 
a  man  longer.  He  sobs — handkerchief  busi- 
ness. PENDLETON  and  CHILTON  look  sorrow- 
fully, sympathetically,  at  the  child,  but  they 
themselves  feel  so  grieved  at  her  going  that  they 
are  wordless  for  the  moment.) 

PENDLETON.  (Looking  about  for  a  convenient 
space  to  deposit  the  animals)  Here.  Tom,  take  the 
menagerie  to  Bleecker,  while  Jimmy  and  I  mingle 
our  tears. 

CHILTON.  Come  on,  ye  sinners,  come  on!  (Re- 
lieves his  host  of  the  animals,  takes  them  off  door 
lower  left.) 

PENDLETON.  Now,  Jimmy,  brace  up  and  be  a 
man !  (Puts  arms  about  the  lad.  Brings  him  down 
right.) 

JIMMY.    (Left  of  PENDLETON )    Y — yes.    I  know. 


POLLYANNA  83 

But  it  seems  like  the  light  of  the  whole  world's  went 

out  with  Pollyanna (Whirls  about  and  sees 

that  the  light,  too,  has  disappeared,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  the  sun  has  for  the  moment  gone  behind  a  cloud 
— work  this  by  hooding  bunch  light  off  left  upper 
and  lowering  back  border.)  See!  Even  our  sun- 
shine's -went! 

PENDLETON.  (Right  with  meaning  and  with  feel- 
ing) Yes — even  our  sunshine  "went."  (Caresses 
boy  a  little.) 

JIMMY.  I  didn't  have  a  thing  to  be  glad  for,  and 
she  made  me  glad  for  everything  I  didn't  have.  All 
the  other  orphants  are  glad,  too. 

PENDLETON.    Yes  ? 

JIMMY.  Yes — and  I — Jamey  Munn's  glad — he 
hasn't  got  any  teeth  so  they  can't  ache  him — and  the 
station  man's  glad  he  got  his  legs  cut  off  'cause  now 
he's  got  a  sittin'  job  for  life!  (Several  cries  in  dis- 
tance— those  of  chauffeur,  NANCY,  POLLYANNA,  and 
the  others,  not  too  near  house.)  'Sh !  Sumpen's  hap- 
pened! I'll  go  see!  (About  to  rush  off.) 

PENDLETON.  (Detaining  him)  Nonsense !  There's 
nothing  wrong !  Go  on  with  your  story !  Who  else 
has  our  little  rainbow  girl  made  glad? 

JIMMY.  Oh — everybody!  And  Mrs.  Snow  who 
hasn't  walked  a  step  in  twenty  years — she's  glad  it 
wasn't  her  eyes  goughed  out — or  water  on  the 

brains (Cries  off  left,  more  confusion  off  as  of 

weeping,  wailing,  anxiety,  etc.  PENDLETON  and 
JIMMY  look  up,  astonished.) 

PENDLETON  awe?  JIMMY.  'Sh!  (Listen — murmur- 
ings  heard  left.) 

JIMMY.    Yes,  sir — somepin'  has  happened! 

PENDLETON.    I  believe  you're  right ! 

JIMMY.  (Dashes  to  window  left  centre — PEN- 
DLETON follows,  craning  neck.)  I  can't  see 

(Then  grabbing  a  chair.)  Wait !  (Gets  upon  chair.) 
Why,  it's  here! 


84  POLLYANNA 

PENDLETON.    (Craning  neck,  peering  hard)  Here ! 

JIMMY.    On  our  drive! 

PENDLETON.     Our  drive! 

JIMMY.    Yes,  sir.    Somebody's  hurt! 

PENDLETON.  Are  you  sure?  How  do  you  make 
that  out?  (Hand  on  JIMMY'S  shoulder.) 

JIMMY.  (Craning  neck)  'Cause  they're  carrying 
whoever  it  is — up — slow.  (Then  trying  to  wriggle 
loose  from  PENDLETON,  who  unconsciously  has  his 
hand  on  the  boy.)  Oh,  sir,  please  let  me  go!  I  got 
to  go !  You  stay  here — I'll  come  back  and  tell  you 
what's  happened.  .  .  .  Wait!  (Exits  swiftly  left 
centre  window.) 

PENDLETON.  (Peering  hard.  Enter  DR.  CHILTON 
lower  left,  his  face  very  serious.)  What  is  it,  .Tom  ? 
What's  the  matter? 

CHILTON.    There's  been  an  accident! 

PENDLETON.    Who's  hurt? 

CHILTON.    It's  Pollyanna,  Jack 

PENDLETON.  Pollyanna?  Good  God!  How  did 
it  happen? 

CHILTON.     Knocked  down  by  an  automobile. 

PENDLETON.  How  badly  hurt  is  she?  (Takes 
hold  of  CHILTON .) 

CHILTON.  I'm  afraid  quite  badly.  I  made  only  a 
brief  examination.  Let  me  go,  Jack !  I  must  tele- 
phone for  the  hospital. 

(NANCY  enters  lower  left,  and  goes  to  couch.  Enter 
CHAUFFEUR  with  POLLYANNA,  BLEECKER  pre- 
cedes him.) 

CHILTON.    On  the  settee,  Bleecker. 

BLEECKER.  (Crosses  to  right)  Yes,  sir.  (To 
CHAUFFEUR,  who  follows  BLEECKER  to  settee) 
Straight  ahead  to  the  settee. 

POLLYANNA.    I  don't  want  to  lie  down ;  I  want  to 


POLLYANNA  85 

sit  up.  I'm  not  hurt.  Put  me  in  a  chair.  I  want 
to  sit  in  a  chair !  (BLEECKER  moves  small  chair.) 

CHILTON.  (With  JIMMY  moves  armchair  right  of 
table)  All  right,  all  right !  You  may  sit  in  a  chair. 
You  don't  have  to  lie  down  unless  you  want  to. 
(CHAUFFEUR  places  her  in  chair.)  There,  how's 
that,  your  Royal  Highness?  (PENDLETON  down  to 
left  of  chair.) 

POLLYANNA.    That's  splendid,  thank  you. 

CHILTON.  (To  PENDLETON  quickly)  Keep  as 
calm  as  you  can  while  I  go  to  the  telephone.  (Exits 
right  upper.) 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  Nancy!  Th — thank  you, 

Bleecker (Then  to  CHAUFFEUR,  glances  about) 

And  everybody! 

(CHAUFFEUR  exits  through  window  left  centre. 
JIMMY  puts  hand  on  her  arm.  Rubs  eyes  in  a 
queer  manner.) 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  Jimmy — why,  I  feel  so  queer! 
As — as — if  I'd  been  all  drawn  up  in  a  knot — and 
couldn't  untie  myself!  (Sees  NANCY  and  JIMMY 
weeping.  PENDLETON  left  of  her.  And  others  turn- 
ing away  as  if  unable  to  bear  hearing  the  storv  of 
her  accident.  BLEECKER  back  of  table.)  Oh — please 
don't  look  so  sad,  beautiful  King!  And  don't  cry, 
Nancy,  Jimmy!  I'm  not  a  bit  hurt!  (Sits  erect, 
moves  arms  about.  Miss  POLLY'S  voice  off  door 
loiver  left.) 

POLLY.  Oh,  where  is  she?  Where's  my  poor 
child? 

PENDLETON.  (Indicating  to  BLEECKER  to  greet 
Miss  POLLY)  Bleecker  .  .  .  (Then  gets  back  of 
armchair.) 

BLEECKER.  Yes,  sir.  .  .  .  (Starts  left.  Enter 
POLLY  excitedly.) 


86  POLLYANNA 

Miss  POLLY.  Oh,  where  is  she,  Bleecker?  Tell 
me!  Where  is  she? 

(BLEECKER  points  to  POLLYANNA  and  exits  lower 
left,  leaving   door  open. 

POLLYANNA.    Here  I  am,  Aunt  Polly ! 

POLLY.  (Rushing  toward  her)  Oh,  my  poor 
child — how  did  it  happen  ?  Are  you  suffering  much  ? 
(Drops  behind  her  chair,  burying  her  head  in  her 
arms  on  arm  of  chair.)  Oh,  my  dear — my  dear — 
my  dear! 

POLLYANNA.  (With  radiant  face,  stronger  now) 
Oh,  Aunt  Polly.  You  called  me  "dear"  for  the  first 
time!  Maybe  if  I  got  really  sick  you  would  kiss 
me! 

POLLY.  (Raising  her  arms  and  drawing  child 
tozvard  her)  Oh,  my  child — my — poor — poor — 
child!  (Kisses  her.) 

POLLYANNA.  (As  Miss  POLLY  again  drops  back, 
her  shamed,  weeping  face  hidden  beneath  her  arms 
on  chair  arm)  Thank  you,  Aunt  Polly.  (Caresses 
POLLY'S  hand.)  Oh,  it's  so  good  to  have  people  care ! 
Wouldn't  it  have  been  lovely  if  I'd  been  run  over 
when  I  first  came?  Then  I  wouldn't  have  been  so 
lonely. 

Miss  POLLY.  Oh,  don't — don't — don't!  I  can't 
bear  it!  (Others  are  affected  by  the  pathos  of  the 
speech.) 

POLLYANNA.  Please  don't  cry,  Aunt  Polly!  I'm 
not  hurt!  I'm  not  even  scratched.  (Looks  at  her 

hands  and  arms.)     Or  bruised (Feels  waist, 

and  moves  back  and  forth.)  Or  bent!  (Then  joy- 
fully) I'm  well!  (Miss  POLLY  says,  "I'm  afraid." 
Pause,  looks  about,  all  are  sad)  Why — don't  you 
believe  me?  (No  encouragement.)  Watch — I'll 
prove  it!  I'll  stand  up — I'll  walk!  (Begins  to  pull 
herself  together  now.)  Then  maybe  you'll  believe! 


POLLYANNA  87 

Look — everybody (They  turn,  they  peer  a  little 

closer,  all  draw  a  bit  closer,  watch  very  intently. 
She  places  hands  on  arms  of  chair,  lifts  herself  up 
gradually.)  Here  I  go!  (When  she  feels  sure  of 
herself  she  lets  go,  and  collapses,  reaching  out  hand 
and  breaking  her  fall.  Enter  DR.  CHILTON.  JIMMY 
steps  back  a  little.)  Oh ! 

PENDLETON.    Pollyanna ! 

POLLYANNA.  (Astounded,  also  frightened,  though 
not  admitting  it)  Why,  I  can't  stand — I  can't  walk! 
What's  the  matter  ?  Why  can't  I  get  up  ?  (Assumes 
frightened  expression,  and  feels  her  knees  and  her 
legs  down  to  her  feet.)  My  feet  are  asleep — like 
Mrs.  Snow's! 

(JIMMY  stands  back  right.     POLLY  calls  to  Doctor 
centre.) 

POLLY.  Doctor,  Doctor  Chilton !  (Turns  to  him.) 
Oh,  Doctor,  don't  tell  me  she's  injured  that  way — 
Promise  me  she'll  get  well.  That  she'll  zvalk  again! 

(Doctor  shakes  head  and  turns  face  away — a  step 
towards  couch,  POLLY  weeps.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Horrified  for  a  moment)  Get 
well?  Walk  again?  Why,  Aunt  Polly — what  do 
you  mean?  If  I  can't  walk,  how  can  I  ever  be  glad 
for  anything?  (Then  determined  that  it  shall  not 
be  so.)  Why — of  course  I'll  get  well.  Of  course 
I'll  walk.  Why  do  you  ask?  Why  do  you  doubt? 
(Then  defiantly)  I  shall  get  well — and  I — shall — 
walk!  Shan't  I?  (To  NANCY — appealingly)  Nancy? 
(NANCY  turns  away — sobbing.)  Aunt  Polly?  (Miss 
POLLY  doesn't  give  an  immediate  answer  and  POLLY- 
ANNA  continues  rapidly)  Beautiful  King?  (PEN- 
DLETON to  right  of  her.  CHILTON  left.  POLLYANNA 
holds  out  her  arms  from  one  to  another  as  she  cries 


88  POLLYANNA 

out  their  names  rapidly,  not  pausing  when  no  "yes" 
seems  imminent.) 

(Bunch  light  up  slowly  off  left  upper — also  spotlight 
up  slowly  from  lozver  left  door.) 

PENDLETON.  (Who  has  come  to  right  of  chair — 
with  much  feeling,  taking  her  hands)  Why,  of 
course,  my  darling!  God  wouldn't  destroy  those 
little  feet  when  He  needed  them  to  run  His  errands. 
Of  course  you'll  get  well,  of  course  you'll  walk! 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  you  understand!  You  under- 
stand, and  look (Pointing  to  lozver  left  door.) 

The  rainbow !  My  promise !  That  means  God  has 
only  borrowed  my  feet  for  a  little  while — and  some 
day  He  will  give  them  back  to  me!  (A  prayer. 
Hands  uplifted.)  Oh,  I  thank  thee,  dear  God — for 
Thy  beautiful  promise!  7  shall  get  well — I  know — 
and  I  shall  walk.  (Curtain  begins  to  fall.)  I'm  so 
glad — I'm — so — glad!  !  !  (Medium  curtain.) 


CURTAIN 
(Pictures  same  positions  as  the  end  of  act.) 


ACT   IV 


SCENE  :  Fire  log  out.  Prism  brackets  lighted.  Blue 
•medium  light  at  back.  Same  as  Acts  II  and  III, 
except  that  the  gloomy  look  has  disappeared. 
Gay  flowers  decorate  table  and  mantel.  The 
French  windows  left  centre  stand  open,  and  out- 
side are  seen  two  lamps  (lights)  leading  down 
the  drive  to  the  entrance  gates. 

Flowers  on  settee  in  front.  Stuffed  arm- 
chair back. 

Armchair  at  right  of  table  away  from  table. 

Foot  and  first  border,  "white  light"  full  up. 

PLACE  :  Same  as  Act  II  and  Act  III. 

TIME  :  Five  years  later.    A  summer  evening. 

DISCOVERED:  At  rise  of  curtain  PENDLETON  left. 
BLEECKER  discovered  on  stage  centre,  back  of 
table.  PENDLETON  is  dressed  for  dinner  and 
stands  down  left,  evidently  viewing  the  effect 
of  the  decorations.  BLEECKER  with  vase  of 
flowers.  PENDLETON  has  three  vases  of  flow- 
ers. 

PENDLETON.  Here!  Bleecker,  you  had  better 
take  this  one.  (Gives  vase.  Crosses  right  and  sets 
two  vases  on  mantelpiece  and  turns  to  view  them.) 
How's  that,  Bleecker? 

BLEECKER.    Splendid,  sir — beautiful ! 
89 


90  POLLYANNA 

PENDLETON.  (Smiling,  rubbing  his  hands  together 
and  looking  about  for  further  "chores")  Well — is 
everything  all  right? 

BLEECKER.     I  fhink  so,  sir. 

PENDLETON.  Gate-lights  on?  (Peers  up  left  as 
he  crosses  to  window  left  centre.) 

BLEECKER.    An  hour  ago,  sir ! 

PENDLETON.     Good!     (Turns  about,  satisfied) 

BLEECKER.  Everything's  lookin'  wonderful,  sir! 
(Places  vase  right  on  table  and  pedestal.) 

PENDLETON.  Well — it  can't  be  too  wonderful  to 
welcome  home  our  little  Glad  Girl  after  five  long 
years ! 

BLEECKER.    No,  sir!    You're  right,  sir! 

PENDLETON.  (At  window,  left  centre)  Good 
Heavens!  Look  at  the  crowd  in  front  of  Harring- 
ton's, will  you  ? 

BLEECKER.  Yes,  sir — it's  the  villagers — waiting 
for  a  glimpse  of  Miss  Pollyanna,  when  she  comes 
from  the  train !  (With  feeling)  Oh,  I  do  hope  she'll 
come  back  cured,  sir,  for  their  sakes! 

PENDLETON.  (Coming  down  left,  thinking  he  must 
not  have  heard  the  right  word)  Cured?  (Explo- 
sively, almost  savagely)  Of  course  she'll  be  cured! 
Five  years  under  the  care  of  the  finest  specialists  in 
Europe  without  results?  7 — should — say — not! 

(Ready  door  slam  off  lower  left.) 

BLEECKER.  (Taking  flowers  off  table  and  placing 
them  on  cellarette)  That's  what  I  tell  them,  sir, 
but  the  villagers  won't  have  it  that  way !  The 
butcher  says  as  how  she'll  come  back  on  crutches — 
and  the  baker-boy  says  she'll  come  back  in  a  wheel- 
chair— and  the  lamplighter  thinks  she'll  come  back 
exactly  as  she  went  away — flat  on  her  back! 

PENDLETON.  O — h,  they  do,  do  they?  Humph! 
The  old  grouches !  (Crosses  to  right — then  angrily) 
If  there's  anything  on  this  earth  I  loathe — ifs  a 
grouch!  (Starts  swiftly  toward  door  right  upper — 


POLLYANNA  91 

turns  to  door.)  Bleecker!  Has  Master  James  re- 
turned from  his  ride? 

BLEECKER.     No,  sir. 

PENDLETON.  Send  him  to  me  as  soon  as  he  does. 

(Slam.) 

BLEECKER.  Yes,  sir.  (Outer  door  is  heard  to 
close.)  Wait!  Maybe  that's  he  now!  (Crosses 
down  to  left.) 

(Enter  JIMMY  in  riding  togs  lower  left.) 

JIMMY.  Hel-lo,  Dad!  (Hands  gloves  and  crop 
to  BLEECKER,  who  exits  right  upper.  Delightedy) 
I — say — but  the  place  looks  great !  From  the  top  of 
the  hill,  it  looks  like  a  prairie  fire!  And  the  mob 

out  there (Goes  to  window  up  left  centre.) 

I  nearly  had  to  trample  them  under  the  filly's  feet 
to  clear  the  way ! 

PENDLETON.  (Coming  toward  table  leisurely — 
evidently  pleased  with  his  son)  No — r — really  ? 

JIMMY.     Yes — and  look  at  the  conservatory 

(Indicates  the  flozuer-dec  orated  room.)  I — tell — you 
— some — night,  isn't  it? 

PENDLETON.     It  is,  indeed,  son (Pats  his 

shoulder,  and  smilingly  repeats  his  slang)  Some 
night!  !  ! 

JIMMY.  I  say — won't  it  be  fine — seeing  Pollyanna 
walk  in,  on  her  feet! 

(Door-bell.) 

PENDLETON.  The  finest  thing  in  the  world ! 
(Door-bell  rings  off  lower  left.) 

JIMMY.    Who's  that,  I  wonder?     (Going  left.) 

PENDLETON.  (Follows  JIMMY  over  a  little)  Oh, 
don't  be  so  nervous — Pollyanna's  train  isn't  due  for 
an  hour  yet.  (Calls)  Bleecker,  the  bell ! 

BLEECKER.  (Off  stage,  right  upper)  Coming,  sir. 
Coming ! 


92  POLLYANNA 

JIMMY.  (Embarrassedly)  Oh — I — I  wasn't  think- 
ing of  Polly  anna 

PENDLETON.  No,  I  suppose  not — you're  blushing 
because  it's  a  full  moon,  I  daresay — or  is  the  rosy 
glow  merely  to  carry  out  the  color  scheme  of  the 
decorations?  (Throws  back  his  head  and  laughs. 
Goes  left.  Enter  BLEECKER  right  upper.)  Come 
along,  son — let's  take  a  survey  of  this  electrical  dis- 
play of  Bleecker's!  (Puts  arm  about  JIMMY — 
strolls  upper  left.  Laugh  and  exit  through  window 
left  centre.) 

(Door  slam.) 

(NANCY'S  voice  heard  off  lower  left.) 

NANCY.    Is  there  nobody  here  to  open  this  door? 

BLEECKER.  (Arranges  flo^vers  on  table  and  is  go- 
ing left.  Enter  NANCY  fussily.)  My  word ! 

NANCY.     Murder  and  turf !    Are  you  still  alive  ? 

BLEECKER.  (Crosses  down  right  centre)  Yes, 
and  would  you  kindly  remain  in  the  vestibule,  please? 

NANCY.  (Crosses  to  centre  of  table)  Oi  will  not ! 
Wait  in  it,  if  you  loike  it  so  well.  Oi  want  to  see 
the  King,  Oi  do.  Where  is  he? 

BLEECKER.     Mr.  Pendleton  is  engaged,  Miss. 

NANCY.  Engaged!  What  th'  divil  do  Oi  care 
if  he's  married?  Oi'm  not  here  to  make  love  to  him. 
What  do  yez  think  Oi  am?  An'  affinity?  Now,  go 
'long  with  yez  an'  tell  his  Majesty  Oi've  a  missage 
for  him.  G'wan ! 

BLEECKER.     I'll  take  your  message ! 

NANCY.    Ye  will  not! 

BLEECKER.  Then  you'll  have  to  wait (Indi- 
cates that  she  is  to  wait  off  lower  left.) 

NANCY.  Shure  Oi'll  wait!  (Drops  upon  chair 
languidly  right  of  table.) 

BLEECKER.  (Quickly)  Er — ah — do  you  mind 
standing,  Miss? 


POLLYANNA  93 

NANCY.  Shure  I  moind  standing.  It's  tired  Oi 
am.  And  it  ain't  Miss,  if  you  plaze — but  Missis! 
(BLEECKER  grins  and  opens  eyes  in  amazement.) 
Stop  making  eyes  at  me,  ye  ould  buzzard! 

(BLEECKER  goes  left.  Enter  PENDLETON  through 
window  left  centre.  He  does  not  see  NANCY 
on  chair.) 

PENDLETON.  What  is  it,  Bleecker?  Didn't  I  hear 
someone  talking?  (Going  to  left.) 

NANCY.  (Jumping  up)  It's  me,  sir!  (Recalling 
POLLYANNA'S  courtsey,  bows  awkwardly.)  I  mean 
— Mr.  King! 

PENDLETON.     (Astounded)    Why,  Nancy,  you ! 

NANCY.    Shure,  King!    (Another  bob.) 

PENDLETON.    Where  did  you  drop  from,  the  sky? 

NANCY.  Oi  didn't  drop!  Oi've  been  livin'  next 
door  for  a  week,  Oi  have,  gettin'  the  house  ready 
for  the  folks ! 

PENDLETON.  You  astonish  me!  I  didn't  know 
the  house  had  been  opened ! 

NANCY.  (Catches  sight  of  the  interested  BLEECK- 
ER j  Get  rid  of  the  flunkey,  Mr.  King,  an'  Oi'll  tell 
ye  my  missage. 

PENDLETON.  (Crosses  to  BLEECKER  at  left)  You 
may  go,  Bleecker ! 

(BLEECKER  bows  and  exits  lower  left  as  JIMMY 
enters  left  centre  window.) 

JIMMY.  I  say,  Dad — it  looks  great — and  I  think 
if  you  were  to  have  Bleecker — 

NANCY.  May  I  drop  dead  this  minnit,  if  it  ain't 
Jimmy  Bean  o'  the  orphanage! 

JIMMY.    Nancy!    (Goes  and  embraces  her.) 

NANCY.  Me  soul — the  stoyle!  (Peers  at  him 
from  top  to  toe.)  An'  the  grand  looks!  Ye  can't 


94  POLLYANNA 

tell  me  that  clothes  don't  make  the  gintlemin! 
There's  proof!  QIMMY  laughs.)  Why,  you're  a 
man! 

JIMMY.  (Pompously)  Well,  I'm  seventeen! 
(Rubs  face  each  side  unconsciously  as  if  shaving 
same.) 

NANCY.  (Imitating  him)  Be  careful  you  don't 
cut  yourself,  Jimmy !  (Smilingly)  My,  won't  Miss 
Pollyanna's  eyes  shoine  when  she  sees  you! 

JIMMY.  Oh — if  she  ever  gets  here !  (Goes  right.) 
It'll  just  be  like  that  old  Boston  Limited  to  be  late 
when  Pollyanna's  coming  home. 

NANCY.  Oh!  I  forgot!  She  won't  be  on  the 
Limited — that's  what  I  came  over  to  tell  you — that's 
me  missage ! 

JIMMY  and  PENDLETON.     (Disappointedly)     Oh! 

NANCY.     (Mischievously)     She's — here — now! 

JIMMY  and  PENDLETON.    Now! 

NANCY.  Yis — they  came  in  an  ottymobile,  they 
did,  from  Boston,  and  they  want  to  know  can  they 
come  right  over? 

JIMMY.     Oh,  yes!     Yes — certainly — right  away! 

PENDLETON.  (Crosses  to  NANCY)  Certainly, 
Nancy,  and  how  is  the  little  Glad  Girl?  Walking 
about,  I  suppose? 

NANCY.  (Claps  hand  on  mouth)  Oi  wasn't  to 
tell!  Oi  wasn't  to  tell! 

(PENDLETON  and  JIMMY  speak  simultaneously.) 

PENDLETON.    Wasn't  to  tell! 

JIMMY.    (Crosses  to  NANCY,)    You  don't  mean — 

NANCY.  (Starts  left,  hand  to  her  mouth.  PEN- 
DLETON stops  her.)  Oi  wasn't  to  tell!  Oi  wasn't 
to  tell! 

PENDLETON.    But,  Nancy! 

NANCY.  Don't  ask  me,  Oi  tell  ye!  Oi  wasn't  to 
tell! 


POLLYANNA  95 

PENDLETON.  Well,  Nancy,  if  you  won't,  you 
won't!  (NANCY  crosses  to  door.)  Here's  some- 
thing for  your  trouble.  (Takes  money  from  pocket.) 

NANCY.  (Looking  at  it)  Foive  dollars,  glory  to 
be !  Well,  but  all  the  same,  I  wasn't  to  tell !  (Exits 
lower  left.) 

PENDLETON.  (More  or  less  to  himself,  thought- 
fully) Wasn't  to  tell,  eh,  Jimmy?  She  said  she 
wasn't  to  tell! 

JIMMY.  (To  right  end  of  table)  Well,  she 
didn't! 

PENDLETON.  (Crosses  to  JIMMY.  To  the  boy) 
Jimmy,  my  boy — tell  me — will  you  be  fearfully  up- 
set if  Pollyanna  isn't  absolutely  cured? 

JIMMY.  Only  for  her  sake,  Dad!  Not  for  my 
own! 

PENDLETON.  (Nervous,  worried  manner)  Yes, 
but  it's  a  terrible  thing  to  build  up,  year  after  year, 
then  have  your  hopes  come  tumbling  down!  (Up 
left  and  around  table  to  window  left  centre.  Ex- 
plosively) Confound  Tom  Chilton !  Why  the  devil 
didn't  he  write  and  let  me  know  the  truth  after  my 
sending  him  all  the  way  to  Europe  for  that  pur- 
pose? It's  outrageous!  It's  criminal!  Nothing 
short  of  criminal! 

JIMMY.     Still,  Dad,  it  would  be  all  right  if 

PENDLETON.     (Coming  down  left)     All  right! 

JIMMY.  I  mean  that — er — she — she'll  need  me 
more  now  than  if  she  were  cured,  you  know — to — to 
— protect  her — and — and — take  care  of  her!  So 
after  all.  I'd  be — almost  glad! 

PENDLETON.  Glad?  Good  Lord!  How  can  you 
say  such  a  thing? 

JIMMY.  But  think,  Dad,  how  splendid  it  would 
be  taking  care  of  her — always  before  she  was  taking 
care  of  me. 

PENDLETON.    That's  a  fine,  manly  way  of  speak- 


96  POLLYANNA 

ing.     (Hand  on  his  shoulder.)     I'm  proud  of  you, 
my  boy,  proud  of  you ! 

(Enter  BLEECKER  lower  left.) 

BLEECKER.  Dr.  Chilton  and  Miss  Harrington  are 
coming  up  the  drive. 

PENDLETON.     Who! 

BLEECKER.  Dr.  Chilton  and  Miss  Harrington, 
sir. 

PENDLETON.     Together? 

BLEECKER.     Close  together,  sir! 

PENDLETON.  Extraordinary!  Show  them  in, 
Bleecker!  (BLEECKER  exits  lower  left.  Turning  to 
JIMMY)  Quick,  Jimmy,  into  your  purple  and  fine 
linen — and,  Jimmy,  your  chin,  boy.  Take  the  micro- 
scope and  see  if  there  isn't  a  heavy  beard  on  the 
northeast  ridge. 

(Exit  JIMMY  right  upper.    PENDLETON  crosses  right 
centre.) 

(Door  slam.) 

BLEECKER.  (Speaks  off — at  door)  Glad  to  see 
you  back,  Doctor,  and  you,  Miss  Harrington!  Go 
right  in,  please.  (He  holds  door  open.) 

(Enter  CHILTON  and  Miss  HARRINGTON  lower  left. 
Miss  POLLY  goes  toward  PENDLETON,  hands  ex- 
tended, smilingly.) 

PENDLETON.  Welcome  home,  Polly (Then, 

recalling  the  feud  of  twenty-five  years)  Er — ah — I 
may  call  you  "Polly"? 

Miss  POLLY.    You  certainly  may — Jack ! 

CHILTON.    Mrs.  Chilton,  if  you  please! 

PENDLETON.    Mrs.  Who! 

CHILTON.     Mrs.  Chilton,  Chilton,  Chilton! 

PENDLETON.    What  do  you  mean? 


POLLYANNA  97 

Miss  POLLY.    It  means  we're  married ! 

PEN  DLETON  .    Married  /    Where  ? 

Miss  POLLY.    In  Paris! 

PENDLETON.    Paris  f 

CHILTON.     Certainly!    It's  quite  possible! 

PENDLETON.  Well!  This  is  a  surprise!  (Grips 
hand.)  My  best  wishes,  Polly!  (Crosses  to  Doc- 
tor, and  shakes  hand.)  Congratulations,  Tom! 
(Taking  hand  of  each.)  May  you  have  a  lifetime 
of  happiness  and  an  extra  quarter-century  to  boot 
that's  owing  you!  (Laughs.)  But  where  is  the 
little  Glad  Girl? 

POLLY.     Nancy's  bringing  her  right  over. 

PENDLETON.  And  how  is  she — that's  the  import- 
ant thing !  How  is  she? 

POLLY.  The  dear  child  insists  upon  telling  you 
about  everything  herself! 

PENDLETON.  Oh,  but  I  say,  Polly,  I  simply  can't 
wait !  /  must  know! 

POLLY.  I'm  sorry,  Jack,  but  she  made  me  promise 
I  would  say  nothing,  and  I  must  keep  my  faith ! 

PENDLETON.  (Disappointedly)  But,  confound  it ! 
(Whirling  about  and  facing  TOM.)  Then  you  tell 
me,  Tom !  You  haven't  a  New  England  conscience ! 

(CHILTON  peeps  over  at  his  wife,  who  holds  up  warn- 
ing finger  and  stares  at  him.  POLLY  wig-wags 
with  fan  and  frowns  at  TOM.) 

CHILTON.    No,  but  I've  a  New  England  wife! 

PENDLETON.  But  I  must  know!  Why  do  you 
keep  me  in  suspense?  If  she  isn't  cured,  can't  you 
prepare  me?  And  if  she  is — won't  you  relieve  my 
anxiety?  Surely — surely  you  can  say  at  least  "yes" 
or  "no." 

CHILTON.  Not  while  my  wife's  hypnotic  gaze 
holds  me  under  its  sway ! 


98  POLLYANNA 

(  POLLY  smiles  and  fans — still  staring  TOM  "in  the 
eye.") 

PENDLETON.  But  in  your  last  cable  you  said  she 
was  coming  on  splendidly.  Now  all  I  ask  is,  has 
she  had  a  set  back  since  then?  Can  you  tell  me  that? 
(Turns  and  sees  POLLY  "eying  TOM" — so  steps 
squarely  between  them,  and  holds  out  his  arms  as  if 
trying  to  shield  TOM  from  the  "hypnotic  eye"  facing 

POLLY.J 

CHILTON.    Yes 

POLLY.  (Stepping  forward  and  dodging  under 
JACK'S  arm)  Now,  Tom 

CHILTON.  No — regardless  of (Shields  his 

eyes  from  POLLY)  — consequences,  I'll  have  to  tell 
you  that  much — she's  had  no  set  back!  (Drops  arm, 
now  that  he  has  performed  his  friend  the  "services") 

(POLLY    smiles    comfortably    and    fans — he    didn't 
spoil  the  surprise.) 

PENDLETON.  (To  CHILTON,  facing  him,  quickly, 
side-stepping  so  that  POLLY  is  behind  him)  Then 
she's  well?  She's — cured? 

POLLY.  (Laying  restraining  hand  on  PENDLE- 
TON'S  arm  and  going  right)  Now,  no  more,  Jack! 
Please  don't  have  us  break  our  word  to  the  poor 
child !  You'll  know  all  from  her  own  lips  soon. 

PENDLETON.     Just  one  word! 

POLLY.     Now,  no  more  catechism ! 

PENDLETON.  Why  didn't  she  come  over  with  you? 
If  she's 

POLLY.  Because  I  wanted  to  speak  with  you  alone 
first — if  I  may 

PENDLETON.    Alone!    Certainly!    Be  seated! 

( POLLY  sits  right  of  table,     PENDLETON  sees  Doc- 


POLLYANNA  99 

tor  practicing  steps.    He  works  behind  chair  to 
POLLY'S  right.) 

PENDLETON.  That's  very  good,  Tom.  I  think 
you  might  practice  that  in  the  next  room.  The  door 
to  your  left,  Tom. 

CHILTON.  Hang  the  door  to  your  left!  I  wouldn't 
trust  you  with  anybody's  wife,  let  alone  mine,  you 
irresistible  devil!  (Crosses  and  sits  on  arm  of 
POLLY'S  chair.)  Pat  my  hand,  Love. 

POLLY.     Silly  boy ! 

PENDLETON.  Yes — for  the  love  of  Heaven,  Tom, 
control  yourself!  (Bending  toward  POLLYJ  Now, 
Polly,  what  is  it? 

POLLY.  It's  this,  Jack.  I  want  to  ask  your  for- 
giveness for  the  part  I  played  in  separating  you  and 
Charity  so  many  years  ago! 

PENDLETON.     Please 

POLLY.  Please  let  me  get  it  off  my  conscience 
and  my  heart. 

PENDLETON.  (Unwilling  to  listen  longer  to  the 
painful  subject)  I  understand,  Polly,  dear — and  I 
do  forgive  you — freely — gladly. 

POLLY.  But  I  have  so  much  I  wish  to  say.  I  in- 
sist. 

PENDLETON.  And  I  insist  I  forgave  you  long  ago. 
Let's  say  no  more  about  it. 

POLLY.  Thank  you,  Jack — you  are  the  best  man 
in  the  world ! 

(PENDLETON  kisses  her  hand  and  goes  up  to  window 
left  centre.     POLLY  goes  back  of  table.) 

CHILTON.    Why,  darling,  I  thought  /  was  the  best ! 

POLLY.     So  you  are ! 

CHILTON.  Then  what  do  you  mean  by (Kiss- 
ing her  hand.)  By  the  way,  old  man,  where's  Jim? 
Isn't  that  paragon  home  from  college  ? 


ioo  POLLYANNA 

PENDLETON.  (Coming  down  left)  Bless  you — 
yes !  He's  shaving !  (All  laugh.) 

POLLY.     Tom  tells  me  he's  turned  out  splendidly ! 

PENDLETON.  I  should  say  he — has — turned  out 
splendidly !  Why — he's  the  joy  of  my  life !  The 
finest  specimen  of  boy — and  he's  still  head  over  heels 
in  love  with  Pollyanna- 


POLLY.     (Rises)    Oh,  but  Jack- 


PENDLETON.  What  do  you  mean?  Surely  you 
don't  intend  to  put  any  stumbling  block  in  the  way 
of  their  marriage? 

POLLY.  Marriage!  But,  Jack!  They're  only 
babies !  The  idea !  Speaking  of  marriage  at  seven- 
teen !  Absurd ! 

CHILTON.    I  should  say  preposterous ! 

PENDLETON.     Is  it? 

POLLY.     It  certainly  is.    See  how  long  we  waited  ? 

PENDLETON.  Oh,  to  be  sure — the  "happy  day"  is 
years  off,  but  if  they  should 

POLLY.  But  Jack!  His  people!  Think  of  who 
his  parents  may  have  been.  Think  what  may  have 
been  the  circumstances  of  his  birth ! 

PENDLETON.  I  have  looked  into  that — just  for 
this  occasion ! 

POLLY.     (Eagerly)     Yes?    You  found  out 

PENDLETON.      His    mother   was   a (Smiles 

wisely  at  CHILTON,  who  stands  silent,  waiting 
POLLY'S  surprise.  He  is  "in  the  know." )  Weatherby 
of  Boston! 

CHILTON.    Weatherby  of  Boston !  !  ! 

POLLY.  (Whirling  about,  staring  at  the  two  men) 
Weatherby  of  Boston !  Not  the  Back  Bay  Weather- 
bys? 

PENDLETON  and  CHILTON.  (Together)  Yes — the 
Back  Bay  Weatherby s! 

(Ready  mob.) 

POLLY.  (Radiant — aghast)  Not  the  Quincy 
Weatherbys? 


POLLYANNA  101 

PENDLETON  and  CHILTON.  Yes — the  Quincy 
Weatherbys!  Judge  Quincy  Weatherby  was  his — 

CHILTON.      Grandmother — no,   grandfather! 

POLLY.  Think  of  it — the  Quincy  Weatherbys! 
And  you —  (Crosses  to  him,  facing  CHILTON^ 
— knew  it !  Why  didn't  you  tell  me,  Tom  ? 

CHILTON.    Sworn  to  secrecy ! 

POLLY.    Tell  me  about  it,  Jack ! 

PENDLETON.  Oh — the  same  old  story !  Beautiful 
girl  married  man  against  the  wishes  of  her  parents. 
She  dies  when  her  child  was  born — and  the  husband, 
at  her  death,  hating  the  family — hides  the  boy  in  the 
orphanage  under  an  assumed  name  lest  the  Weath- 
erbys recover  him ! 

POLLY.  (To  CHILTON,)  Think — of — being  re- 
lated— to — the — Q  uincy  Weatherbys ! 

CHILTON.     (Rapturously,  hands  out)    Ah 

POLLY.  (To  PENDLETON  )  We  should  be  related 
— shouldn't  we?  You  and  I? 

PENDLETON.    No,  we  are  not  related. 

POLLY.     Not  to  the  Weatherbys? 

PENDLETON.  Oh,  yes,  of  course,  to  the  Weather- 
bys, only  remotely,  to  be  sure. 

POLL.  (With  bombast)  To  be  sure — but  still — 
related! 

(Cheers  off  left.) 

PENDLETON  and  CHILTON.    Yes — still  related! 

(Cheering  of  "Mob"  quite  some  distance  of,  distant 
cheers.    All  listen.) 

PENDLETON.  What's  that  ?  (Goes  up  toward  win- 
dow left  centre.  POLLY  and  TOM  exchange  know- 
ing glances.)  I  know — it's  the  villagers  cheering 
Pollyanna !  She's  coming !  She's  on  her  way ! 
(Turns  to  TOM  and  POLLY  back  of  table.)  Tell  me 
the  truth !  Don't  let  her  be  brought  here  on  a  chair 
or  crutches — without  preparing  me!  I  couldn't 


102  POLLYANNA 

stand  it !     It's  a  brutal  thing  to  do !     It's  inhuman ! 

CHILTON.    I'm  sorry 

(Spotlight  on  POLLYANNA.) 

POLLY.     Please 

PENDLETON.  If  she's  still  crippled  I  want  to 
know 

(Enter  POLLYANNA,  stepping  lightly  in  the  frame  of 
the  open  window,  smiling  and  ready  to  flutter 
down  to  her  "King") 

PENDLETON.     It's  seeing  her  suddenly,  not  cured ! 

POLLYANNA.  Beautiful  King!  (Holds  out  arms 
toward  him  at  window.  PENDLETON  turns  and 
stares  at  the  vision.) 

PENDLETON.  Polly  anna!  (Extends  arms.)  Why — 
(Comes  down  left.) — you — you're  well!  You're 
cured!  You  can  walk! 

POLLYANNA.     Yes ! 

PENDLETON.  (Stepping  forward  and  throwing 
his  arms  about  her)  Oh,  Pollyanna — and  I  was  so 
afraid — you  would  never  walk  again! 

POLLYANNA.  No — there  was  never  a  doubt  of  my 
walking  again !  Don't  you  remember  God's  promise 
to  me  that  day  I  was  hurt — my  rainbow ? 

PENDLETON.  You  beautiful,  exquisite,  spiritual, 
trusting  child!  But  why  didn't  you  write  me  you 
were  well?  Or  you,  Tom,  when  I  sent  you  over? 

CHILTON.     Polly  wouldn't  let  me. 

PENDLETON.  Polly  wouldn't  let  me !  Oh,  you  talk 
like  a  parrot!  Didn't  you  know  I  suffered?  And 
there  you  were — cured  all  the  while! 

POLLY.  Ah,  but  that's  just  it.  (Crosses  to  front 
of  chair  right  of  table.)  It  wasn't  "all  the  while." 
So  many  times  we  thought  she  was  cured  she  would 
slip  back  and  start  all  over  again.  So  I  said  to  her, 
"If  you  write  you  are  cured,  and  vour  feet  go  back 
to  sleep,  your  beautiful  King  will  feel  sad;  but  if 


POLLYANNA  103 

you  write  nothing  and  he  fears  the  worst,  he  will  be 
all  the  gladder  to  find  you  cured! 

PENDLETON.  You  are  right,  Polly — quite,  quite 
right ! 

CHILTON.  (To  right  of  chair)  Polly's  always 
right — aren't  you,  my  little  polly-woggy  ? 

( POLLY  sits  right  of  table.) 

POLLYANNA.  But,  oh — after  all,  I'm  glad  it  hap- 
pened ! 

PENDLETON.  Glad  it  happened?  With  all  your 
suffering — and  waiting,  and  disappointments  through 
five — long — years 

POLLYANNA.  Even  so (Sweetly,  but  not  with 

comedy)  For  you  have  to  lose  your  legs  to  really 
love  them!  (Wistfully)  And  then — it's  so  sweet 
to  have  people  care!  (He  draws  her  to  him)  If 
you  could  only  have  seen  all  those  dear  ones  at  the 
gate  to  welcome  me  and  smile  their  joy  at  my  re- 
covery   (Crosses  to  centre.)  Mrs.  Snow  in  her 

wheeled  chair — the  cobbler  on  his  crutches 

They  were  all  there,  bless  their  dear  hearts — so  it 
was  worth  the  suffering — and  so  I'm  glad ! 

PENDLETON.  You — blessed — child!  (Kisses  her 
hair.)  The  same  beautiful  Pollyanna!  She  hasn't 
changed  a  wink ! 

POLLYANNA.     Oh,  but  I  have. 

PENDLETON.    No,  you  haven't! 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  but  I  have!  Haven't  you  no- 
ticed that  my  freckles  have  all  gone!  (Gives  him  a 
chance  to  examine.)  I  prayed  them  off! 

PENDLETON.  I'm  sorry!  I  loved  every  freckle  of 
them !  7  prayed  for  them  to  stay ! 

CHILTON.  Oh — that  explains  why  you  had  such 
a  time  getting  rid  of  them,  my  darling  niece — the 
wires  got  crossed!  (They  laugh.) 


104  POLLYANNA 

POLLYANNA.  And  now  tell  me — Jimmy!  Does 
he  like  freckles,  too? 

PENDLETON.  Jim?  He  doesn't  know  what  he 
likes — he's  too  young! 

POLLYANNA.  Young!  Why,  he's  seventeen!  I 
hope  you  don't  call  that  young! 

CHILTON.  I  should — hope  not!  The  idea!  He's 
in  his  prime!  (All  laugh  except  POLLYANNA.  j 

PENDLETON.  Wait — I'll  call  him.  Then  he  can 
decide  the  weighty  freckle-problem,  himself !  (Then 
an  idea — crosses  to  door,  right  upper.)  Oh,  Jim! 
Jim!  ( POLLY  rises  goes  down  right.  Catting 
through  open  door  right  upper.) 

JIMMY.  (Off  stage)  Coming,  Dad!  (Excitedly 
— almost  hysterically.) 

PENDLETON.  Watch  his  face  when  he  sees  you 
standing  on  your  feet!  (A  better  idea.)  No!  We'll 
fool  him!  You  fooled  me!  Now  it's  his  turn! 

Come (Gently  urges  her  centre  and  places  her, 

wonderingly,  in  chair  right  of  table.)  Some  cush- 
ions— Tom 

CHILTON.  Right  here !  (Takes  two  cushions 
from  settee  and  hands  them  to  PENDLETON,  who  ad- 
justs them  properly.) 

POLLY.  (Gets  cushion)  And  one  at  your  feet — 
(Hands  another  over  which  PENDLETON  places  on 
floor  beneath  her  feet,  then  crosses  up  back  of  table 
centre.  POLLY  to  back  of  table.) 

PENDLETON.  There!  (POLLYANNA  giggling. 
Standing  off  a  bit  and  gazing  at  the  result.)  Splen- 
did! Fine!  He'll  never  dream  you're  well!  You 
couldn't  look  a  little  paler,  could  you,  dear  ?  (Glances 
right  nervously.) 

POLLY.     (Behind  table  centre)     Here  he  comes! 

PENDLETON.  There,  run  along.  We  young  folks 
must  let  these  old  folks  of  seventeen  reminiscence 
alone.  Shoo!  Shoo!  (Shoos  TOM  and  POLLY 
lower  left,  while  POLLYANNA  turns  and  watches 


POLLYANNA  105 

them,  laughingly.    As  the  trio  exit  the  door  closes 
silently.) 

( POLLYANNA  faces  about,  glances  shyly  at  door  right 
upper,  then  preens  a  bit — watches  door  from 
corner  of  eye  and  azvaits  JIMMY.  Enter  JIMMY 
right  upper.) 

JIMMY.  (Going  swiftly  toward  her — hands  out) 
Pollyanna ! 

POLLYANNA.    Jimmy ! 

JIMMY.  (Awkwardly — embarrass edly)  How — 
are  you?  * 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  I'm  fine!  How  are  you? 
(Makes  move  to  rise.) 

JIMMY.  I'm — I'm  all  right!  D — d — don't  try  to 
rise! 

POLLYANNA.    Why!    You're  grown  up! 

JIMMY.  / — should — say.  (Then  to  impress  her 
with  his  strength.)  And  strong — feel!  (Offers  bi- 
ceps to  be  examined.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Feeling)  Why  —  Jimmy  Bean 
Pendleton — you're  a  regular  Samson! 

JIMMY.  (Cockily — swelling  to  great  height  and 
breadth)  Well — rather!  I  can  carry  anything! 
Why — you — you  would  be  only  a  feather  in  my 
arms ! 

POLLYANNA.  In  your  arms!  I  beg  your  pardon, 
Mr.  Pendleton — but  I'm  not  in  the  habit  of  being 
carried  about  in  gentlemen's  arms!  (JIMMY  turns 
away  left.  POLLYANNA  rises — goes  right — laughs 
softly.)  Jimmy ! 

JIMMY.  (Turns  and  sees  her)  Why — why — 
why,  Pollyanna  Whittier — you're  standing  on  your 
feet!  You're  cured!  You — can — walk!!! 

POLLYANNA.  Certainly  I  can  walk — and  hop  and 
skip — and  run — and  dance!  (Whirls  smilingly. 


io6  POLLYANNA 

Stops,  still  smiling,  and  sees  his  sober  face.)    Well? 
Aren't  you  glad? 

JIMMY.  Why,  I — I  don't  know  whether  I'm  glad 
or  not !  (Goes  left.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Going  centre)  Glad  or  not?  Why, 
Jimmy  Bean  Pendleton,  you're  horrid! 

JIMMY.  (Going  right)  Yes,  but  you  don't  un- 
derstand. You  see,  you're  not  what  I  expected.  I 
— wanted  you  to  need  me — and — and  lean  on  me — 
and  everything. 

POLLYANNA.     Why,  Jimmy! 

JIMMY.  But  now  you  won't  do  any  of  those 
things ! 

POLLYANNA.  Oh,  yes,  I  will,  Jimmy!  I  prom- 
ise! I'll  be  just  as  leany  and  weak — as  a  kitten! 
Look  at  me — see?  (Sways  a  bit.)  I'm  beginning 
to  wobble  already! 

JIMMY.  (Clasping  her  in  his  arms)  Oh,  Polly- 
anna,  always  wobble.  Promise  me ! 

POLLYANNA.     (Clasping  his  arms)     I  promise! 

JIMMY.    Then,  Pollyanna,  I'm  going  to  kiss  you! 

POLLYANNA.    Are  you? 

JIMMY.    May  I? 

POLLYANNA.  Why,  certainly,  if  we're  engaged— 
that's  part  of  it!  (JIMMY  is  about  to  kiss  her,  but 
she  stops  the  performance.)  Wait!  Are  we  en- 
gaged? 

JIMMY.  Certainly  we're  engaged!  Didn't  we 
promise  each  other  when  we  were  twelve,  and 
haven't  I  been  true  to  you  all  these  years? 

POLLYANNA.  Really,  Jimmy — how  happy  I  am 
that  I've  found  a  man  I  can  trust !  (Offers  her  lips 
to  be  kissed — he  kisses  her.) 

(PENDLETON,  DOCTOR  and  POLLY  appear  in  door 
lower  left,  then  close  it — they  on  the  outside.) 

JIMMY.    Thank  you,  Pollyanna. 


POLLYANNA  107 

POLLYANNA.  Thank  you,  Jimmy.  Jimmy,  we  are 
engaged!  How  glad  I  am  I  picked  you  up  under 
the  hedge. 

JIMMY.    Not  half  as  glad  as  I  am  I  was  "picked." 

(POLLYANNA  giggles  and  says  "Really."  Holds  up 
hands  and  rolls  eyes  as  if  the  daily  tirade  had 
wearied  her.) 

JIMMY.  (Goes  to  her.  Sits.)  But — but  wouldn't 
you  feel  more  comfortable  if  you  knew  my  grand- 
father was  a — Senator  or — or  a  Governor — or  some- 
thing, instead  of,  say — a  burglar? 

POLLYANNA.  Not  a  bit!  I'd  feel  worse  if  any- 
thing! Anyway,  I'm  marrying  you — Jimmy — not 
your  grandfather ! 

JIMMY.  Yes,  but,  Pollyanna — think  of  marrying 
a  nameless  waif  out  of  an  orphanage !  Oh !  (Goes 
left.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Rises,  goes  centre,  whirling  him 
about  and  grabs  him,  inquiring  sharply)  See  here, 
Jimmy  Pendleton — are  you  trying  to  back  out  of 
your  proposal? 

JIMMY.  No,  Pollyanna — I'm  trying  to  make  you 
say  something,  and  you — you  won't  say  it!  (Turns 
away.) 

POLLYANNA.  No,  and  I  never  will  say  it  if  it's 
kow-towing  to  ancestors !  We  are  what  we  are — 
and  that's  the  end  of  it !  And,  besides,  please  bear 
this  in  mind — if  you  were  found  in  an  orphanage, 
/  was  reared  in  a  mission! 

JIMMY.  Why  didn't  you  write  me  you  felt  that 
way  about  it?  Then  I  wouldn't  have  had  father 
look  me  up ! 

POLLYANNA.  (Astonished)  Look — you — up? 
(  JIM  MY  looks  sheepish.)  Jimmy  Bean — you  don't 
mean  to  tell  me  you've  gone  and  turned  out  an  aris- 
tocrat? 


108  POLLYANNA 

JIMMY.  (Very  sheepishly)  I — I'm  sorry,  Polly- 
anna 

(Warn.) 

POLLYANNA.     You  mean  that,  Jimmy? 

JIMMY.     Every  word,  Pollyanna! 

POLLYANNA.  Then  kiss  me,  dear — for  that  is 
true  love!  (Offers  cheek — he  kisses  it.)  Thank 
you,  Jimmy! 

JIMMY.  Thank  you,  Pollyanna!  And  now — I'll 
tell  you  what !  If  you'll  forgive  me  for  being-  well- 
born, I'll  forgive  you  for  getting  well !  Is  it  a  bar- 
gain? 

POLLYANNA.  (Solemnly)  Yes — if  you  will  sol- 
emnly promise  never  to  brag  about  it,  or  that  your 
old  grandfather  danced  with  Lafayette! 

JIMMY.     (Raising  hand)     I  promise!     (Proceeds 

to  break  same.)     She  did,  though (Laughs.) 

But  I  promise!     (Crosses  left  centre.) 

POLLYANNA.  You — bad — boy!  (Catches  him— 
he  grabs  and  kisses  her.) 

(Door  right  upper  quickly  opens  and  PENDLETON, 
POLLY  and  CHILTON  enter  and  come  down 
smiling  at  the  children.  POLLYANNA  and 
JIMMY  see  the  trio  instantly.) 

POLLYANNA  awe?  JIMMY.    Oh!  !  !    (Separate.) 

POLLY.  (Coming  down  right  to  couch.  Raising 
hands  and  eyes  upward)  Sweet !  !  !  Seventeen !  !  ! 

CHILTON.  (Coming  down  right  to  couch.  Ditto 
business)  Serious  seventeen !  (All  laugh.) 

PENDLETON.  (Comes  down  right  and  front  of 
table.  Ditto  business)  Innocent — exquisite  seven- 
teen! !  ! 

JIMMY.  (Left,  eager  to  get  away  from  the 
"teasers")  Come,  Pollyanna! 

POLLYANNA.  Wait —  (Starts  to  dash  off  with 
him.) 


POLLYANNA  109 

PENDLETON.  No,  no,  ho (Stops  and  holds 

her.)  Wait  yourself — wait  yourself —  Now  that 
you've  gladdened  the  hearts  of  Jimmy  and  me — two 
other  old  friends  are  waiting  to  greet  you 

POLLYANNA.  (Quizzically)  Two  other  old 
friends? 

(POLLYANNA  crosses  right  to  Miss  POLLY.    JIMMY 
goes  over  right  also.) 

PENDLETON.  Yes (Strides  to  door  left,  then 

turns  and  announces  formally)  "To  you — from  me 
— with  love "  (Calls)  Bleecker — the  menagerie ! 

BLEECKER'S  VOICE.    Yes,  sir — right  here,  sir ! 

(Enter  BLEECKER  lower  left  with  huge  SODOM  on 
pillow  and  GOMORRAH  stalking  at  his  side. 
Laughter.) 

PENDLETON.  (Announcing.  Faces  POLLY  and 
CHILTON.J  Sodom  and  Gomorrah!  (Goes  to  table.) 

POLLYANNA.  (Crosses  to  centre)  Why,  they're 
elephants !  Are  you  sure  these  are  Sodom  and 
Gomorrah,  Bleecker? 

BLEECKER.    Yes,  Miss — quite  sure ! 

CHTLTON.  Sure  they  weren't  mixed  in  their 
cradles,  Bleecker? 

BLEECKER.  (Solemnly)  Oh — positive,  sir — posi- 
tive! 

POLLYANNA.  (Addressing  cat)  Look  at  me,  you 
self-satisfied,  pompous  old  thing.  Do  you  know  me? 
I'm  Pollyanna.  The  girl  who  picked  you  up  from 
the  ash-dump  that  day?  Don't  you  remember? 
(Then  addressing  dog)  Gomorrah?  Do  you  re- 
member me  ? 

PENDLETON.  For  shame,  ungrateful  beast !  Why, 
this  is  the  young  lady  who  risked  her  life  to  save 
your  worthless  neck ! 


i  io  POLLYANNA 

POLLYANNA.  (Explosively.  Stretching  his  mouth 
a  bit  to  show  his  teeth,  if  possible)  Yes!  He  re- 
members— see!  He  smiles!  He's  glad! 

CHILTON.  (Pointing  to  cat)  And  the  cat  smiles 
— he's  glad! 

(Warn  curtain.) 

POLLY.  (Pointing  to  TOM'S  grinning  face)  And 
you  smile — you're  glad! 

(BLEECKER  goes  up  left  centre  with  dog  and  cat.) 

CHILTON.      And    Polly    smiles (Points    to 

POLLY'S  smiling  face)     She's  glad! 

PENDLETON.  Good!  (Indicates  all  smiling  faces) 
We  all  smile — we're  all  glad!  (Then  louder)  On — 
the  game!  The- game!  The  game!  Let's  play  it! 

POLLYANNA.  Good!  You  first,  beautiful  King— 
what  are  you  glad  for? 

PENDLETON.  Me?  I'm  glad  that  a  little  child 
threw  open  the  window  of  my  heart,  letting  in  the 
light,  and  changed  a  wilderness  of  hatred  into  a 
Garden  of  Love!  What  are  you  most  glad  for, 
Pollyanna ! 

POLLYANNA.  (Stepping  forward)  I'm  glad  for 
a  chance  to  tell  about  the  glad  game,  for  it  can  be 
played  not  only  up  here,  but  out  there  on  the  street 
and  in  the  home.  Anywhere — everywhere!  To- 
morrow, to-night,  right  here,  now!  (Rapturously) 
Oh's  it's  so  worth  while!  (Steps  forward,  hands 
out  invitingly)  Won't  you?  Won't  everybody? 


CURTAIN 


IO1 


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